Harvey passes clot, says he can start opener

PORT ST. LUCIE— Matt Harvey said he will start Opening Day against the Royals, even after a tortured few days of battling a mystery ailment, which he revealed Tuesday morning to be a bladder infection that caused a blood clot that needed to be passed.

“Any time there’s discoloration in your urine, it’s not a great feeling,” said Harvey, who has been cleared for light baseball activity and may throwa few innings on Wednesday, the final tuneup before his first Opening Day assignment on Sunday night in Kansas City.

The Mets breathed a collective sigh of relief. The ailment, though painful, ultimately had minimal effect on Harvey’s ability to pitch. But it was nonetheless unsettling for Harvey, whose anguish included difficulty urinating, the symptom that raised red flags for doctors.

Harvey, who turned 27 on Sunday, said he contracted a bladder infection caused by his habit of putting off bathroom breaks. The blood clot followed.

The revelation cleared Monday’s mystery surrounding Harvey’s ailment. Citing privacy concerns because it was a non-baseball ailment, the Mets kept a tight lid on the situation, prompting speculation on social media about the nature of Harvey’s condition.

After initially saying that Harvey would make his final scheduled spring start Tuesday, the Mets on Monday announced hewould be skipped, a sign of trouble.

Aside from the early uncertainty of the situation, Harvey said the most disconcerting part of the experience was “reading some pretty nasty things about what it could be.”