“When you wake up with a crick in your neck, it’s kind of like that, just in my upper back”.
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The hope was that one additional day between starts would allow Matz to take the hill against Philadelphia, but with the side soreness lingering into Wednesday, manager Terry Collins has opted to scratch the 24-year-old. “It’s definitely making improvement”.
General manager Sandy Alderson said the team’s ace will start Game 3 of the divisional playoff series with Jacob deGrom starting the opener and rookie Noah Syndergaard likely toeing the rubber in Game 2. “It doesn’t matter whether up 2-0 or down 0-2 or 1-1, it’s a big game”.
Matz, the former Ward Melville star, was scratched from his scheduled start for the second straight day. After shocking many by going deep into the game against the Cincinnati Reds to clinch the division, Harvey will be limited to 70-80 pitches in his final regular season start.
The New York Mets have been playing well and want to head in to the postseason with a full head of steam. There had been optimism that he could go Thursday, but the stiffness remains.
Collins refused the put Matz in the bullpen because of his injury history which could affect putting him more on a everyday basis in the pen. In his first start back from the disabled list, he exited early due to a blister on his pitching hand. The 28-year-old last came out of the bullpen on July 10, 2011. “We can’t pitch him six times”. “I know it’s going to go away”.
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The rookie right-hander is also attempting to prove he’s worthy of a spot in next year’s rotation. “But Matt also takes advice, rightfully so, from people that he thinks have his back – his surgeon, his agent, obviously two of the best at what they do”, Wright said. Matz was hit hard in a 6-4 win at Cincinnati with three runs given up on ten hits in 5.2 frames.
