LOS ANGELES -- New York Mets slugger Yoenis Cespedes is bullish on his team's pitching, even compared with a Los Angeles Dodgers staff that includes Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.

"I would say in quality, in just pure talent, our pitching is superior to theirs," Cespedes told ESPN Deportes' Marly Rivera in Spanish. "Whether things go well for us or not, that is another matter. But in terms of ability, our pitchers are so young, with great arms, a very good pitching staff. I think what they have to do is believe in themselves and get it into their heads that they can do this, and things will work out. "

The Mets will start Jacob deGrom in Game 1, followed by Noah Syndergaard in Game 2 and then Matt Harvey when the division series shifts to Citi Field. Steven Matz is throwing a simulated game in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on Thursday morning to determine if he is ready to return from back spasms and potentially start Game 4.

As for Kershaw and Greinke, Cespedes said: "They are pitchers of great ability, but they still have to throw the ball. The strike zone does not get any bigger. We may not perform well against them, but the fact is that they are pitchers, like any other pitcher. You have to do your job to the best of your ability. But, like them, we also have some great pitching."