Collins hoping to ease Matz back in

NEW YORK — Mets manager Terry Collins said left-hander Steven Matz may throw a Wednesday bullpen session in the hopes he can pitch this weekend against the Phillies.

Matz has not pitched since Aug. 14 because of shoulder tightness.

The bullpen session scheduled for Wednesday is in New York rather than at the team’s spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

If Matz does rejoin the rotation, he would be limited to 40 or 50 pitches, Collins said.

“He’s not ready to go real far, so we need to make sure we’re not just taking a shot in the dark here and starting a guy that we can get only get two innings out of,” Collins said. “So we’ll see where he’s at when he comes with his side on Wednesday and see what develops from that.”

If Matz cannot pitch, Gabriel Ynoa seems the likely candidate after pitching 42⁄ innings of one-run ball in his first career start Sunday against the Twins.

With Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom both out for the rest of the season, Matz, who is 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA in 22 starts, would be one of the Mets’ best options for the postseason rotation.

However, even if Matz does return, Collins estimated he would only be able to throw 85 pitches in a potential postseason start.

Meanwhile, Collins decided to hold slumping outfielder Jay Bruce out of the starting lineup for the second straight game. Bruce is hitting .181 with four homers and 11 RBIs in 38 games since being acquired from the Reds on Aug. 1.

“We just told Jay yesterday, look, we’re going to get you out of here. Just back off for a couple of days, catch your break and get back in there,” Collins said.