New York Mets Matt Harvey Hints At Playoff Prediction In Ace's Return Season From Tommy John Surgery

New York Mets ace Matt Harvey isn't afraid of making headlines or being seen, and Tuesday, Dec. 2, he met the media in anticipation of his return season to the mound.

Harvey, who missed all of 2014 after undergoing Tommy John surgery after bursting onto the scene as one of baseball's best pitchers in 2013, hinted vaguely at a playoff prediction for his normally moribund Mets.

"I don't think it's going to be easy to skip starts — I don't think any pitcher is going to want to really do that," Harvey said, about taking small rests throughout the season, according to USA Today. "But to be able to pitch in October is going to be more important."

The Mets haven't sniffed October since 2006, after historic collapses in 2007 and 2008 seemed to serve as a middle-finger prerequisite to troubling times ahead. Soon after came the Bernie Madoff scandal and half a decade of futility. Then, in 2013, Harvey came along and stole the baseball spotlight.

He started the 2013 All-Star Game and posted a 2.27 ERA in 26 starts.

Now, with Harvey returning from injury, National League Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler back, more prospects on the way and an improving offense, the Mets appear capable of taking the next step.

But the Mets will want to be careful with their ace, given that he just missed a full year from injury. Harvey said he's "completely on board" with management's plans to keep him healthy deep into the season, according to ESPN.

The championship-focused attitude isn't anything new for Harvey. He grew up in Conneticuit idolizing Derek Jeter, who won five World Series championships with the Yankees.

But talk of the Mets playing for championships is new. And Mets fans have to be happy to hear it coming out of a healthy Harvey's mouth.