Mets Will Start Matt Harvey In Game 1 Of NLCS
(CBS) There will be no shortage of storylines in the Cubs-Mets matchup in the NLCS.
For the elder generation of Cubs fans, there will be demons of their team's 1969 collapse to exorcise. More to the point at hand, this series will feature what many consider the best young core of hitters in the game (Cubs) against the best young core of pitchers in the game (Mets).
It gets started with Saturday's Game 1 at Citi Field, where New York will give the ball to right-hander Matt Harvey. Mets manager Terry Collins made that announcement late Thursday night after his team's 3-2 victory against the Dodgers in Game 5 of the NLDS.
"Huge honor, huge honor," Harvey told ESPN.com. "I'm very excited about it. I was a little disappointed in my last start, so getting another chance to go back out there and start us off right is everything I wanted."
Rookie right-hander Noah Syndergaard was in line to make the Game 1 start, but the Mets used him out of the bullpen for an inning Thursday. Harvey will be going on full rest, as he hasn't pitched since Monday's Game 3 of the NLDS. The Cubs have already announced that left-hander Jon Lester will pitch Game 1.
Harvey was 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in the regular season. He allowed three earned runs in five innings and picked up a win in his lone postseason start. Harvey made one start against the Cubs this season, taking a no-decision after throwing seven brilliant scoreless innings and allowing only three hits.
Mets ace Jacob deGrom threw six innings Thursday, so it's likely he won't pitch until Game 3 on Tuesday at Wrigley Field. Though it hasn't been announced, Syndergaard is the likely Game 2 starter Sunday for the Mets, who also have rookie left-hander Steven Matz in their postseason rotation.
