You’ve gotta love National League pitching. Especially when you get to see a marquee matchup like Madison Bumgarner vs. Clayton Kershaw twice in a week.
Divisional rivalries are one thing, but when you’ve got two verifiable aces going head to head in a division matchup, is there anything better than that?
Tonight, the Mets get to give Max Scherzer their own National League introduction to Citi Field, and what better “host” to do it with than Matt Harvey?
Looking to go 5-0 on the season, Harvey takes his rejuvenated arm to the mound against a Cy Young award winner in Scherzer. The one solace Scherzer can bring with him into Citi is his reverting back to the deep expansive outfield he fortuitously pitched in all those years as a Detroit Tiger.
While Citi isn’t 420 feet to straightaway center, it’s still vast. Detroit Tigers broadcaster Dan Dickerson said the high fastball pitchers loved Comerica because they felt comfortable pitching there and knowing they can get away with a pitch or two because of its depth.
One thing Scherzer shouldn’t take comfort in is the Mets propensity to hit for extra bases. I’m predicting a few early runs of support for Harvey, especially with Scherzer battling a slight injury.
Given the Mets upstart success early this season, tonight might be as good a time as any to prove they can contend with the high expectations by winning against their NL East rival Washington Nationals not only in early May but late September as well.
Reeling from a beatdown by Stephen Strasburg and the Nats yesterday, I’m thinking rebound, and, with Matt Harvey on the mound, dI o so quite confidently. Look for the Mets to even this four game weekend series and Scherzer to only make it through five.
