STEVIE FIX
‘Ready’ Matz can’t wait to finally help Mets’ rotation
With Steven Matz and Seth Lugo set to make their season debuts this weekend in Atlanta, the Mets’ beleaguered rotation suddenly won’t look so thin anymore.
But even Terry Collins knows that only makes things look better on the surface. Since neither pitcher — sidelined by elbow injuries — has appeared in the majors this season, the Mets manager isn’t sure how either starter will perform in their returns.
Lugo, who went 5-2 with a 2.67 ERA in 17 appearances — including eight starts — as a rookie last season, posted a 4.58 ERA in four minor league appearances this year, though he is coming off his best rehab outing, in which he allowed one run in seven innings for Double-A Binghamton, while striking out eight and walking none.
Matz made four starts, and registered a 6.06 ERA, In his most recent outing, Matz surrendered five runs and eight hits in 4 ¹/3 innings, while recording five strikeouts and no walks.
“To be honest, sitting here, I’m not sure what to expect,” Collins said Sunday. “When those bright lights come on, it’s a whole different game. So we’re going to throw them out there next Saturday and Sunday and see what we’ve got.”
Collins said he wasn’t concerned with Matz’s inflated numbers since the southpaw primarily pitched in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Matz wasn’t bothered by his lackluster rehab outings either, noting how little those appearances have in common with major league starts.
“It’s really just getting for a feel back on that mound in a competitive situation,” Matz said Monday night during an appearance on “MLB At The Plate” on MLB on TuneIn. “It’s hard to emulate that adrenaline that you have in the game when you got a hitter in there and you got fans. That soreness that sets in you can’t really emulate that any other way. The main thing is just getting back on the mound and feeling the rubber, and feeling all my pitches and location and stuff like that.”
Though Matz doesn’t think he needs to be eased back into action, the oft-injured 26-year-old isn’t sure how much he’ll throw in his first start back after reaching 90 pitches in his most recent minor league outing.
“I would assume I’m ready to go for 100-plus pitches, but that’s ultimately [pitching coach] Dan Warthen and Terry Collins’ call when I’m in the game. But as far as physically, I feel ready for it,” Matz said. “I can’t wait. Already got kinda [got] the butter- flies. … I’m just really excited to get back out there and compete in a major league baseball game.”
The Mets recently pointed to Tuesday’s game in Texas as a potential return date for Yoenis Cespedes — who could be used as a designated hitter in the American League stadium — but the star outfielder appears unlikely to return then, having not participated in a rehab game since being pulled from an appear- ance with Single-A St. Lucie on May 26 after experiencing discomfort in his right quadriceps.
Since May 1, Neil Walker is batting .314 with five home runs and 21 RBIs.
“He’s swinging very good right now,” Collins said. “With the weather warming up, I think his body’s loosening up a little bit and he’s swinging much, much better. His lower half is much easier to use now.”