PEORIA, Ariz. -- Matt Harvey, who has emerged as a candidate to start on Opening Day for the Angels because of injuries to both Tyler Skaggs and Andrew Heaney, turned in his best outing of the spring on Sunday against the Padres.

Harvey regularly hit 95 mph with his fastball and threw 66 pitches over 4 1/3 innings in the Angels' 6-2 loss. He left with two runners on, and they eventually scored on a three-run homer by Ian Kinsler off Daniel Hudson in the fifth. But he struck out four, including Manny Machado looking to open the fourth inning.

“Today, I was able to trust everything that’s been going on for the last couple weeks bullpen-wise, mechanic work, and leave it to the side and go out and attack,” Harvey said. “I wouldn’t say I was worried it wouldn’t click before the season but it’s nice to have a start like today where everything kind of clicks, so you don’t have to continuously worry about stuff like that.”

Harvey, along with fellow veteran right-hander Trevor Cahill, are both being considered to start the Angels’ regular-season opener against the A’s on March 28 at Oakland. Heaney has been ruled out, as he’ll open the year on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. Skaggs has been dealing with left forearm fatigue and will start on Wednesday against the Indians, but he isn’t expected to be fully stretched out by the time the season starts.

It leaves Harvey as the possible top candidate, as the Angels could start him on Friday for his final Cactus League tune-up, which would give him five days’ rest before Opening Day. Harvey has made one start on Opening Day in his career, in 2016 with the Mets.

“That’s out of my control,” Harvey said. “Obviously, every pitcher looks at Opening Day as the big one, but the most important thing is to be healthy and be where you want to be, to command all your pitches and be ready.”

Angels manager Brad Ausmus said it’s too early to announce who will start on Opening Day but liked what he saw from Harvey on Sunday.

"I thought that was his best outing of the spring,” Ausmus said. “He threw all four of his pitches. All four were effective. The velocity was probably the best we’ve seen."

Harvey, who signed with the Angels on a one-year deal worth $11 million this offseason, is looking to get his career back on track, as he was one of the game's best pitchers early in his career with the Mets but has dealt with a plethora of injuries and a few off-the-field issues over the last five years.

The 29-year-old believes he can regain that effectiveness, especially if he can stay healthy. He has undergone several surgeries over the years, including operations to repair his ulnar collateral ligament, thoracic outlet syndrome and his right scapula.

“It’s been hard in the last couple years to get the demons out, I guess you’d say,” Harvey said.

“I think for me it’s not being so mechanical like I have been earlier, just let it go. The training staff here has done a great job. I told them when I came here I am completely on board with you guys doing whatever you want to do to keep me on the field, and they are doing a great job."