Armed & Dangerous: Mets Aces Ready To Make Their Spring Debuts

Hey National League, Ready Or Not, Here We Come!

Bartolo Colon and Steven Matz will make their spring debuts on Monday as the New York Mets play a pair of split-squad games against the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter and against the Detroit Tigers at Tradition Field. The veteran right-hander Colon will be tasked with taming the Tigers, while the young southpaw Matz will deal against the Cards.

“I think it’s time to get them out there, get them in some type of a consistent program to get them ready for the season,” Terry Collins told Kristie Ackert of the Daily News.

“We made a commitment last fall when the season was over that we were not going to rush these guys in spring training. We let them have a couple of bullpens or batting practice sessions to make sure their arm strength is fine before we put them out there.”

This was the plan from the day pitchers and catchers first reported to Port St. Lucie. It was actually general manager Sandy Alderson who told reporters that the team would delay the spring training debuts of the starting five – Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Bartolo Colon.

Harvey will make his spring debut on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves in Orlando, Jacob deGrom will take on the the New York Yankees on Wednesday at Tradition Field, and Noah Syndergaard will toe the rubber at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday.

Pitching coach Dan Warthen said all five pitchers will be let loose after weeks of conditioning and getting ready for this moment in Grapefruit League action. “With these guys, I think they’re game ready,” Warthen told Marc Carig of Newsday.

“So they’re going out there and throwing all their pitches. I think you’ll see them want to compete. They’ve had their bullpens, they’ve had their sides. I think they’ll be chomping at the bit.”

This should be a fun and exciting week to follow the team. And as a courtesy to our readers, here’s how you can do that: