Sugar & Bryce

Harper: Amazin’ years ahead for rivals

WASHINGTON — The Nationals are going to be a handful for years to come. Not just because of their pitching, but because of Bryce Harper.

The Mets saw just how difficult of an assignment they are up against this year with Wednesday night’s 2- 1 loss at Nationals Park and Harper was tremendous both on offense and in right field, a new position he is learning.

And get this, Harper not only is excited about his own team — remember his comment after the Nationals signed Max Scherzer: “Where’s my ring?’’ — he is excited about the Mets’ future as well. Really excited. “I truly believe that comment I said about the ring,’’ Harper told The Post after picking up two hits Wednesday night. “I believe in the guys inmy clubhouse. But you look at the Mets and you see their starters. Whew. I mean for the next 10 years, it’s unbelievable. I get chills just thinking about it.

“It’s unreal. It’s fun to watch,’’ Harper, 22, added of the Mets staff and the competition level between the teams.

On Thursday Harper gets to face Matt Harvey, who makes his return from Tommy John surgery.

“I love to watch Matt Harvey pitch,’’ Harper said, adding Harvey has the ability to win the Cy Young Award. “I just talked to him Monday. It’s good to see him back. Even facing him, you get excited. Even if he punches me out, he’s so much fun to watch.’’

Harper loves the game, and that love is evident as he talks and his eyes brightened just talking about the talent level in his clubhouse and on the Mets.

“I love Terry Collins, too,’’ Harper said. “I have so much respect for him. Every time I get in the box, I salute him.’’

The Nationals are playing without three injured players Denard Span, Jayson Werth and Anthony Rendon.

Ryan Zimmerman’s two- run home run in the first inning proved to be the only offense Jordan Zimmermann needed Wednesday night, but Harper had a big hand in shutting down the Mets.

He had a spectacular game in the field as well as getting on base three times. He kept Lucas Duda at first on a drive into the right- field corner in the sixth. The Mets could not score in that inning.

Then in the eighth, David Wright led off with a drive to right- center that should have been a double but Harper hustled over and kept Wright at first base.

Duda then hit a rocket up the middle that pitcher Blake Treinen speared and fired to first to double up Wright.

“I thought they were both doubles,’’ Collins said. “Bryce made great plays to get to those balls.’’

Nearly five hours before the game, Harper was in right field, getting pointers on how to play that difficult position from Werth.

“I’ve been around him at two All- Star Games and I love to talk to the kid,’’ Collins said. “He’s a baseball kid. He loves to talk about baseball. He loves to talk about old baseball. I sat with him at a dinner one night and he just kept talking about the old guys. ‘ What about this guy? What about that guy?’ It was great to hear. He’s a baseball junkie and he plays so hard, you have to appreciate how he plays the game.’’

Zimmermann was terrific, holding the Mets to one run over six innings. He allowed five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out four, then turned it over to the bullpen.

This is what the Mets are going up against this year. They have a chance to take the series Thursday because Harvey makes his return to the mound after missing the entire 2014 season due to Tommy John surgery.

In two games against the Mets, Harper is 4- for- 7 with a home run and a walk. His bat, his glove and his arm have already made quite a statement and on Thursday he faces Harvey. This will be fun.

kevin.kernan@nypost.com