PORT ST. LUCIE — For a change, the Mets’ best-case scenario materialized: Johan Santana is headed to the mound for Opening Day on Thursday at Citi Field.
The Mets ace received the official nod yesterday after a meeting with manager Terry Collins in which Santana asserted his body is up for the challenge.
So bring on the Braves and Santana’s first regular-season start since Sept. 2, 2010, when he tore the anterior capsule in his left shoulder.
“It means that everything we have done since I had my surgery to today has really paid off,” Santana said. “We worked hard, and I’m real happy. I’m really happy that I [have] an opportunity to start the season from Day 1 with the team, and that is something I really was looking forward to and real excited about it.”
Collins admitted there were rocky moments on the road to Opening Day for Santana — most notably in the last week when the ace was bothered by body soreness. But a strong bullpen session by Santana on Saturday told all involved parties the pitcher was ready.
R.A. Dickey, Jon Niese, Mike Pelfrey and Dillon Gee will follow Santana in the rotation announced by Collins.
The Mets will be cautious with their ace. Not only will Collins give Santana an extra day off between starts through his first six appearances — a luxury afforded by the schedule — Santana will be on a pitch count of about 80, at least early in the season.
Though the Mets were not going to risk Santana’s health for the sake of having him pitch the opener, yesterday’s decision provided the team with a morale boost.
“It’s just a thing where everyone wants to see Johan on Opening Day,” Gee said. “Once the season gets going, it doesn’t matter what spot you’re in — you are going out there every five days — but there’s just a prestige of Johan and Opening Day.”
Santana and the Mets were careful all winter and throughout spring training about setting a timetable for the lefty. But the goal was always obvious.
“The first day this winter, the first day we talked about starting, [Santana] said, ‘I came to New York to be the Opening Day starter, so if I can do it, I can be there,’ ” Collins said.
Other than Santana, the most pressing question in the rotation is whether Pelfrey can produce. The right-hander had a horrid spring and knows he will be under the microscope.
“I’m not 22 anymore,” said the 28-year-old Pelfrey. “They are not going to keep giving me a million chances, so I need to perform if I want to be around. So I need to pitch well, and I feel like I’m prepared to do that.”
In a meeting with his pitchers, Collins preached continuity.
“I’ve always felt from my time in baseball, the best pitching staffs aren’t always who they are but the fact the five guys are out there,” Collins said. “I like our rotation.”