Now that the two teams are set for what is bound to be a thrilling National League Championship Series, we now know which two starters will be taking the hill in Game 1.
Following their series-clinching win in Game 5 of the NLDS on Thursday, the Mets announced that righty Matt Harvey is scheduled to start the first game of the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field on Saturday.
Left-hander Jon Lester will throw for the Cubs in Game 1.
"We talked the other day," Mets manager Terry Collins said Thursday. "He came in here yesterday, he said, 'I want to pitch tomorrow night,' and I said, 'You'll pitch if we go extra innings, but right now, you're going Game 1.' And he had a big smile on his face."
In his first postseason start in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Dodgers, Harvey picked up the win despite not having his best stuff. He gave up seven hits, two walks, and two earned runs over five innings.
"It's a huge honor, huge honor. I'm very excited about it," Harvey said of being tabbed to start Game 1 of the NLCS. "I was a little disappointed in my last start, so getting another chance to go back out there and start us out right is everything I want. It's unbelievable. This makes the rehab, the whole process, that much better, that much sweeter. This makes up for it all."
