Matt Harvey will be Mets' 2016 Opening Day starter

The Mets announced this morning that 26-year-old ace Matt Harvey will be the team's Opening Day starter against the Royals on April 3. Manager Terry Collins said Harvey's appointment was deserved.

Collins cited Harvey's strong end to the season as part of the reason to select him. Harvey had a 2.19 ERA and a 2.28 FIP in 78 innings in the second half of 2015.

Harvey pitched 26.2 innings in the Mets' first postseason appearance since 2006, going 2-0 with a 3.04 ERA and a 3.10 FIP. He was the center of controversy when he appeared to talk his way back into pitching the ninth inning in Game 5 of the World Series at Citi Field. Harvey had already thrown more than 100 pitches when he rushed out to throw the ninth, promptly walking Lorenzo Cain and giving up a one-run double to Eric Hosmer. Collins then replaced Harvey with Jeurys Familia. Hosmer eventually scored to tie the game, and the Royals went on to win the game—and the series—in the 12th inning.

Collins stated after the game that he regretted the decision to leave Harvey in for the ninth inning, but said two months later that he had made peace with it.

Harvey pitched 189.1 innings in 2015 after coming back from Tommy John surgery, posting a 3.71 ERA and 3.05 FIP. His 4.4 fWAR was the tenth-best mark among NL starting pitchers. His agent, Scott Boras, ruffled feathers in early September by suggesting that Harvey should be limited to 180 innings. Including postseason work, Harvey surpassed that figure by 36 innings.