PLAY THE GAME!

Mets need to stop worrying about retaliation for Puig and focus on winning games again

LOS ANGELES — Steven Matz is doing everything he can to stay healthy, or not doing everything. The Mets lefthander has purposely avoided throwing his slider this season in part be cause he does not want to put the strain on his elbow.

“I came through the minors without it fine,” Matz said. “I feel like I can pitch with my fastball, changeup and curveball. My elbow is feeling healthy, so I just don’t feel like I want to throw it right now.”

Matz doesn’t feel like dropping the slider from his repertoire has been an issue in his first two starts with the Mets this season. Thursday night, he gave up three earned runs in six innings, with five walks and eight strikeouts.

“I still have it there if I feel like I need it,” Matz said, “but right now, with my elbow feeling good, I just don’t think I need to throw it right now.”

Matz could not say if he thinks throwing the slider contributed to the issues last season, but according to studies the slider is the pitch that puts the most torque on the elbow. It is the pitch pitchers are forbidden to throw in their rehab from Tommy John surgery until the very last step.

“I can’t tell you, because I really don’t know,” Matz said. “I don’t know if there is a way we could know.”

Matz has a history of injuries dating back to Tommy John surgery before he even threw a pitch professionally. With a two-year rehab from that, Matz has never had an easy time staying healthy. Last season, though he was eventually shut down with a strain in his shoulder, he pitched through pain with a significant bone spur in his left elbow. He had surgery to remove it last winter and struggled to get back this spring. He began the season on the disabled list and was making just his third start of the sea son Thursday night.

MONTERO STARTS

After two solid mop-up appearances, the Mets are going to give Rafael Montero another chance at starting. With Zack Wheeler going on the DL and the Mets committed to giving their starters five days rest through Monday’s off day, Montero will start Sunday in San Francisco.

BULLPEN INSURANCE

The Mets called up righty Chase Bradford to shore up their bullpen. Bradford, 27, was 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in 29 relief appearances this season for the 51s.

DRAFT PICKS

The Mets signed four draft picks, including 16th-rounder OF Raphael Gladu from Louisiana Tech University, 20th-rounder RHP Yadiel Flores from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, 33rd-rounder RHP MacLeod Lozer from the University of Michigan and 37th-rounder Joshua Walker from the University of New Haven.