CITI READY TO ROCK!

METS NIP BRAVES, TAKE ON PHILS TODAY IN HOME OPENER

ATLANTA — The Mets will give their fans the nextbest thing to Matt Harvey for Monday’s home opener.

Jacob deGrom has barely spent time in New York since receiving 2014 NL Rookie of the Year honors, so the Citi Field ovation he is likely to get during pregame introductions will serve as a final congratulatory statement.

“I was really honored whenever they told me I was going to have that game and I’ve been looking forward to it since then,” deGrom said after the Mets beat the Braves 43 on Sunday.

The people’s choice, Harvey, is scheduled to pitch Tuesday night against the Phillies, giving the Mets the feel of a second home opener. And the bounce the Mets will receive at the gate was certainly a factor in the decision to hold Harvey an extra day.

By the time Monday’s game concludes, the Mets will be excused if they are weary from Opening Day fatigue.

In addition to last Monday season opener in Washington, the Mets also opened the Braves’ home season on Friday.

The Mets had opened the previous three seasons at home.

DeGrom, according to manager Terry Collins, was a consideration to pitch last week’s season opener. When the decision was reached to tab Bartolo Colon for that start, deGrom got the prize behind curtain No. 2: the second game in Washington and the home opener.

“I think it should be something he should remember for a long time,” Collins said, referring to the home opener.

“To be the Opening Day guy is really an honor. When we set this

whole thing up, we knew Jake deGrom was involved. When we made the decision Matt was not going to be the guy, we certainly targeted Jake deGrom to be the guy that is going to start at home, and it’s a tip of the hat to what he accomplished.”

In his start Wednesday, deGrom took the loss after allowing two runs on six hits over six innings with six strikeouts and two walks. His only miscue was surrendering a tworun homer to Ryan Zimmerman in the first inning.

“That is pretty easy to shake off, especially whenever I looked at where that pitch was that he hit,” deGrom said. “I’m just happy it came early and I ended on a good note going into my next start.”