The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Matz to miss spring start with elbow tenderness
New York Mets pitcher Steven Matz has been scratched from his next start because of tenderness in his left elbow, putting his status for opening day in doubt.
Matz had been scheduled to throw today in a minor league game.
“There’s a little irritation, and he’s got to work that out,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Sunday. “We don’t think it’s anything significant, but it bothers him on extension. He won’t pitch tomorrow, and we’ll see where that takes him over the next four or five days.”
Alderson said the problem has bothered Matz for “a period of time.”
While Matz hasn’t been sent for an MRI, Alderson said the ailment is troubling because the 25-year-old has often been slowed during his two seasons with the Mets.
“It’s worrisome that he continues to be injured off and on. That’s the difficulty,” Alderson said.
Matz was 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA in 22 starts last year, but was shut down in September and had surgery to remove bone spurs in his left elbow.
The Mets open the season April 3 at home against Atlanta.
Matz gave up five runs and eight hits in four innings against Miami on Wednesday. He is 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in four starts this spring.
Matz said the discomfort flared up before that last start and continued during the game. He said he notified the trainers afterward when more soreness than usual lingered.
“It’s just a little tenderness and a little setback,” said Matz, who will have a lighter workout on Monday and participate in long toss.
“I think I’ll be fine. I think I’ll be good to go. I’ll resume throwing and try to jump back in it,” he said.
Manager Terry Collins said he was “extremely disappointed” to hear the news, saying he couldn’t imagine Matz would be ready for the season’s start if he missed this week.
“We had a backup plan, and we’re going to turn to that
backup plan right now. We’re just lucky we have some pretty good pitching,” Collins said.
A prolonged injury to Matz, the lone left-handed starter, would create at least one spot for either Robert Gsellman or Seth Lugo. Those righties have been mentioned as a replacement for Zack Wheeler, who is also an option in his return from Tommy John surgery in 2015.
Spring roundup
YANKEES 7, RAYS 4 >> Aaron Hicks hit a two-run homer and added an RBI single, while Greg Bird also had an RBI single for New York. Bird, who will start at first base on opening day after being injured all last season, is hitting .447 for the spring.
Brad Miller had a tworun single for Tampa Bay. METS 8, BRAVES 2 >> Matt Harvey threw six solid innings, allowing two runs, and Jose Reyes tripled, doubled and singled for New York.