Matz all for injuries
PORT ST. LUCIE — Steven Matz isn’t looking back. Behind him are a long list of injuries that have hindered his career. The Mets left-hander just wants to move forward feeling good and building on that. Thursday, Matz threw live batting practice and he is scheduled to start Monday’s Grapefruit League game against the World Champion Astros in West Palm Beach.
“Definitely I feel stronger, my arm strength feels good, feel really healthy, feel like I am in a really good spot,” Matz said Thursday after his workout. “My command is off a little now, but that is to be expected at this time.”
Matz, who began his professional career by having Tommy John surgery, has made just 41 starts in three years in the big leagues. He has missed time with a neck issue, a partially torn lat, a bone spur and an ulnar nerve issue. He began the 2017 season on the disabled list and was shut down after his Aug. 17 start for surgery to move his ulnar nerve, a procedure common a few years after Tommy John surgery. That is what Matz doesn’t want to talk about anymore.
“I don’t want to compare anything, I just want to say that right now, I feel really good,” Matz said.
Friday, Matt Harvey will throw his second live batting practice, meaning he lines up to start Tuesday’s game against the Astros at First Data Field.
LINED UP AND READY TO GO
Mickey Callaway announced his lineup for Friday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Braves at First Data Field. Sluggers Yoenis Cespedes and Jay Bruce will not play until later in the weekend.
Brandon Nimmo will lead off and play center field. Adrian Gonzalez will DH and hit second followed by third baseman Todd Frazier. Dominic Smith will play first and hit cleanup. Travis d’Arnaud is catching and hitting fifth followed by Jose Reyes, who is playing second base. Amed Rosario is hitting seventh followed by right fielder Kevin Kaczmarski and left fielder Matt den Dekker.
It will be the first time Callaway manages a game.
“It’s going to be exciting. Looking forward to all the situations that are going to happen. Having to look at the game in a different light,” Callaway said. “I’ll have (bench coach) Gary (DiSarcina) on my left, Dave Eiland on my right, or vice versa, wherever they want to sit. We’ll be talking a lot of baseball.”
CONGRATS JAKE!
Jacob deGrom and his wife, Stacey, welcomed their second child Wednesday night. Their daughter, Aniston Grace, joins Jaxon, who will be 2 in April. Mother and daughter are doing well. … Michael Conforto continues his progress swinging on the tee, progressing from 20 to 30 swings on Thursday.