New York Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz was diagnosed with a left forearm strain, and could need a stint on the disabled list.
Whoever keeps asking what else can go wrong for the New York Mets, please stop. In a season/existence filled with injuries and underperformance, the team is receiving more bad news.
Starting pitcher Steven Matz, who left Tuesday’s 25-4 drubbing after 2/3 of an inning in which he gave up eight hits and seven earned runs, has a left forearm strain, according to the Associated Press. He could find himself back on the disabled list.
Manager Mickey Callaway said that Matz felt better than he had the day prior, but left open the possibility of Matz going to the disabled list anyway due, in part, to his innings count for the season already.
“He’s getting up there in innings this year so we have to keep that in consideration, whether or not it’s better to give him a little bit of a break.”
Matz got through the first four months of the season unscathed, making 21 starts, one shy of his career high. He seemed to have been turning a corner, as he has shown a notable increase in his ability to get out of jams.
His healthy first half led ESNY’s Matt Musico to name him one of five players who needed to have a big second half, although that obviously has hit a snag with the forearm injury. He is 5-9 with a 4.35 ERA in his 21 starts thus far.
However, his ERA has blown up in his three starts since the All-Star break, as he entered the break with his ERA sitting at 3.38. He had a very strong May, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in five starts.
Should Matz land on the disabled list, Corey Oswalt, who many feel should have taken Jason Vargas’ spot in the rotation, is expected to take the mound for the Mets in the series finale against the Atlanta Braves.
