Lefty Matz looks right with curve
Steven Matz’s importance can’t be overstated.
Without Noah Syndergaard in the rotation, the southpaw is being asked to emerge. So far, he’s looked up to the task.
Matz continued to impress in spring training 2.0, delivering three shutout innings in an intrasquad game in which he allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three while throwing 45 pitches. Matz’s curveball is becoming a bigger part of his arsenal, and he’s throwing it at different speeds, creating deception.
“The velo difference in the ones that he’s throwing is really good,” manager Luis Rojas said of the velocity. “There are some things he can do off that curveball with his fastball, up in the zone or sneak one on. There are so many things he can do. Adding that weapon to the contrast of his pitches and repertoire of his pitches, it will be great for us and himself.”
Rojas credited pitching coach Jeremy Hefner for part of it, noting Matz and Hefner have had close communication throughout the first spring training and the layoff before this latest return.
“I know Hef is really good at working on expanding repertoires and teaching details of release points,” Rojas said.
Arguably even more impressive was the work of his counterpart, Michael Wacha. Facing most of the Mets’ regulars, the newcomer threw 54 pitches over four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out five, two coming against Michael Conforto.
➤ Rojas said it is too early in this shortened camp to make evaluations on the back end of the roster. In fact, the decisions on the final players to make the 30man roster could go until the last day of workouts. When asked what will be weighted more heavily, how a player looks during camp or his past experience, Rojas said: “It will be a balance of both.” Considering the Mets are playing just two exhibition games, next weekend against the Yankees, there won’t be a lot to go on otherwise.
“It should be a late, late call as far as getting real close to the season for that,” he said.
➤ The Mets remained tight-lipped about the status of Robinson Cano and Brad Brach. Brach has yet to arrive for workouts, and Cano was last seen in an intrasquad game on Monday. Rojas said he expects to see them “soon,” but declined to offer a timetable. … Dellin Betances retired all three batters he faced in Saturday’s intrasquad game. Jeff McNeil took Hunter Strickland deep for the game’s lone run.
Alonso-Cespedes-Michael Conforto meat of the order ... a Mets’ Boar Four.
“I think this lineup,” Keith Hernandez told The Post, “is right there with the ’86 bunch.”
Hernandez analyzed the following projected Mets lineup, including Robinson Cano, even though he is still not participating in spring training 2.0:
BRANDON NIMMO, CF: “He has a good eye at the plate, he gets on base, he’s made big improvement against left-handers, he’s capable of stealing bases, and he brings a helluva lot of energy, which I love.”
JEFF McNEIL, 3B: “He’s impressed me very much, particularly with his knowledge of the strike zone. His focus reminds me a lot of Pete Rose. He does not give up an at-bat. I know he likes to hit the first pitch, which is fine, but maybe at times you want to give Nimmo a chance to steal, but he certainly can handle the bat, he can situational hit.”
PETE ALONSO, 1B: “He really impressed me with his plate discipline last year. He stayed in the strike zone, he has a plan, and he sticks to it. I think Pete’s gonna be protected, I think that they’ll pitch him carefully, he has to stay within himself and not try to do too much and do what he did last year, don’t chase bad pitches, and if they want to give him the walk, take the walk.”
YOENIS CESPEDES, DH: “He’s not old. And if he can’t run the bases full bore, then he doesn’t run the bases full-bore, he doesn’t take the extra base. He’s on a contract year, I think he’ll be focused. I think if he stays healthy, he’s going to have a very, very good year.”
MICHAEL CONFORTO, RF: “He’s pulling more and hitting with more power and I think he fits into the middle of that lineup. He has to make improvements on breaking balls, slow breaking balls, offspeed pitches. Against left-handers, if you make a mistake you’ll pay.”
WILSON RAMOS, C: “Professional hitter, good eye at the plate, he uses the whole field, will have occasional pop, but really I think he’s one of the best clutch hitters in this lineup. He’s a good RBI guy with two outs, too.”
ROBINSON CANO, 2B: “I don’t think he’s finished at all. I think he’s still got a fast bat. I think Robby’s gonna play around 90 percent of the games, and he could also DH.”
J.D. DAVIS, LF: “He’s very disciplined, he stays with his formula, and he knows what he doesn’t like and he knows what he likes. J.D.’s the kind of guy you can hit in the top of the order and can situational hit, he can hit the other way, he’s very good at going to the opposite field, he’s a line-drive hitter, he’s tough to strike out and he hit in the clutch last year.”
AMED ROSARIO, SS: “I don’t mind that he gets a little out of the strike zone, he has to be loosely-goose up there. But he uses the opposite field, he’s got pop, and he brings speed to the lineup. And if he’s red hot and Nimmo’s slumping, you can flip ’em like [ex-Cardinals] Ozzie Smith and Tommy Herr. He’s come so far as a hitter.”
Can’t you just hear the cardboard cutouts in the stands?
“It certainly could be the most formidable lineup in the league,” Hernandez said.
Yo gotta believe.