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New York Mets: Matz to skip start with elbow soreness

By Jordan Wevers

May 4, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) heads to the dugout after pitching during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) heads to the dugout after pitching during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Mets are crossing their fingers that southpaw Steven Matz will not follow in Harvey or Wheeler’s recent footsteps with regards to their medical histories.

Steven Matz was scheduled to start Saturday’s game for the New York Mets on the road at Coors Field until recent elbow soreness caused manager Terry Collins to scratch him. As per David Waldstein of the New York Times, Collins reported the news but also noted that Matz is feeling better since the problem was brought to his attention.

Matz, 24, is crucial to the Mets’ bid to repeat as National League champions. He is one of many youthfully skilled pitchers in the rotation, but he is also its lone southpaw. Currently 5-1 with a 2.86 ERA, 2.68 FIP and 35 K’s in 34.2 innings of work, the Mets need an arm like Matz’s to keep pace with the Washington Nationals in MLB’s NL East.

Having surrendered zero runs while pitching at least six innings in three of six outings, the last thing Mets nation wants to hear is any news regarding one of their pitchers and elbow tightness or inflammation.

Matt Harvey has been under the knife once already in his career because of a torn UCL and the Tommy John surgery that typically follows it. Anytime an elbow issue arises with a hard throwing  pitcher, people hold their collective breaths. 

Matz’s most effective pitch is his 93.4 mph sinker, which actually clocks in faster than his average fastball at 89.1 mph. But the Mets have a number of hard throwing fireballers — Harvey included — who could be at an increased risk of (more) future UCL injuries. Noah Syndergaard‘s heater has on average been the fastest in the league this season, clocking in at 97.7 mph. Right behind him is Harvey (94.2 mph, 8th) and Jacob deGrom (92.9 mph, 20th).

That’s three Mets starters who all throw in the top 28th percentile for NL velocities when considering pitchers that have logged at least 20 IP so far in 2016.

The development with Matz is worrisome when fans of Queens’ ball club know how important their pitching staff is to the bigger picture. Whether it’s the team ERA of 2.78, which is 2nd in MLB, the rotation’s ERA (2.84, 3rd) or their power pitching ways that have brought about 187 strikeouts this season (t-7th) or even the three home runs hit between Syndergaard and Bartolo Colon (which is one shy of the total home runs hit by any Braves player in 2016 not named Freddie Freeman), it’s clear that pitching is the nucleus to the Mets’ forward propulsion.

The New York Mets currently have another promising young pitcher on the shelf right now recovering from March of 2015 TJ surgery in Zack Wheeler. The soon to be 26-year-old right-hander is on track for a July return to action. Consider too, that even Syndergaard had his elbow examined recently.

Next: What does Strasburg extension mean for Arrieta?

Consider Steven Matz day-to-day for now. As a precautionary procedure, he will likely undergo an MRI in the not too distant future, providing more updates to come.

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