Mets Schedule: Matt Harvey in line to start at Citi Field on Wednesday

Until we see Trevor Bauer pitch against the New York Mets this year, no opposing starter on the schedule will excite fans as much as the one lined up for this coming Wednesday. The Baltimore Orioles are stopping off for a pair of games at Citi Field. On Wednesday, Matt Harvey’s turn to start comes up.

This is a different kind of Harvey than we have seen in recent years. Harvey’s lowest season ERA post-2015 is the 4.86 he posted in 2016. It has been a tumultuous era for the Dark Knight’s career but he seems to have finally found himself in Baltimore this season.

The former Mets ace has been better than I think anyone expected

Putting any pitcher on the Orioles is asking for trouble. Camden Yards is a hitter’s ballpark. It’s not usually a place free agent pitchers look to go as they compile good numbers.

Defying those odds, Harvey is 3-2 after his first seven starts with a 3.60 ERA. His 116 ERA+ might not match what he did in his best years with the Mets. However, it’s the first time it has been above 100 for a very long time.

The Orioles are the fourth team Harvey has pitched for since he was traded away from the Mets. The Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Angels, and Kansas City Royals have all employed him, too. He was never able to go vintage at any of those stops. He also managed to avoid pitching against the Mets in New York or the new hometown he represented.

Harvey remains one of the most intriguing Mets players of the last decade. Fans continue to love and root for the guy. Media members seem to have also turned and now look at him more favorably than they once did.

Harvey had the unfortunate role of being the first great Mets pitcher after an era of mediocrity. Debuting in 2012, he was the first bright light to burst before the magic of the 2015 campaign. He signaled a change of direction for the franchise. Mets fans still look at him positively because of all of the great moments he provided in what ended up being in a very short period of time.

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The return to Citi Field will bring back a lot of positive memories for fans. Under the guidance of Steve Cohen’s ownership, I fully expect the organization to show him the respect he deserves.