Noah Syndergaard prepared to start for Mets on Opening Day

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets manager Terry Collins has not officially revealed his Opening Day starter yet, waiting instead for a spring training announcement.

The worst-kept secret around the Mets is that it will be Noah Syndergaard who will take the mound in the first inning at Citi Field when New York opens the season against the Atlanta Braves.

That doesn't mean the tall right-hander considers himself the staff ace.

"I really wouldn't say I'm the leader of the staff. I think we're all leaders in our own way and we're all pulling for one another," said Syndergaard Sunday morning at the club's spring training home the day before pitchers and catchers report.

"It's like a brotherhood within the team. It's really something cool to be a part of."

However, Syndergaard has major factors that play in his favor.

For starters, he's young, strong, reliable and durable.

In a clubhouse that featured a rotation that ranked among the most oft-injured last season, Syndergaard stood out and was the last pitcher standing as the long season unfolded.

Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey had problems from the start, both being injured in the spring and having their seasons cut short by surgeries.

Left-hander Steven Matz had a nagging bone spur and saw his season end due to a shoulder issue that developed.

Prized right-hander Zack Wheeler had Tommy John surgery in March of 2015, made one appearance in a Florida State League game for High A St. Lucie and was shut down.

Syndergaard, who carries the nickname Thor, ultimately could had another moniker: The Healthy One.

"As far as Terry mentioning [the Opening Day starter nod], that's just a huge honor to me. I'm here to answer the call," said Syndergaard, who is recovering from offseason bronchitis and flu. "Whatever the team needs, I'm here to fill that job."

When Collins needed a starter for the win-or-go-home National League Wild Card Game against the San Francisco Giants, the manager turned to his workhorse.

Syndergaard, 24, more than held his own in a classic pitchers' duel with southpaw Madison Bumgarner.

He didn't allow a San Francisco hit until the sixth and worked seven scoreless, striking out 10 Giants in an overpowering Thor outing New York has grown accustomed to.

The Mets ultimately lost 3-0 in Bumgarner's second consecutive shutout in the winner-take-all game.

Syndergaard has bulked up some in the offseason, training at a new facility, monitoring his diet more closely and consuming more protein.

He said the new workouts are more tailored to what he is trying to accomplish, which is to improve on his 14-9 mark with a 2.60 E.R.A. and 218 strikeouts last season.

Almost inconceivably, he also wants to throw harder.

Last season he routinely reached 100 mph on his fastball, which averaged 97.9 for the season. That number was tops in the majors among qualified starting pitchers.

"I always want to throw harder and make the game easier. I felt my velocity jumped up last year from my rookie season. I'll try to raise that bar," he said.

However, he realizes pitching isn't always about raring back and firing it as hard as he can.

He said his offseason work and preparation should help make him more comfortable in this third season.

"Hopefully, it allows me to go deeper into games with more ease, but also focusing on and maintaining my flexibility," he said.

"Pitching's not just max effort; it's all about being fluid."