Until that stiffness goes away-yesterday he felt fine, threw one pitch and felt a sensation in his shoulder that bothered him.
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“We’ve had and looked at the reports”, Collins said in trying to explain what is bothering a key member of his staff. He was diagnosed with a mild shoulder strain and rotator cuff inflammation, but no structural damange to his left shoulder, the team later announced. “Give it some more rest and let it calm down”. The 30-year-old has been excellent in NY, slashing.282/.347/.476 over 458 plate appearances, and seemed primed to receive and decline a qualifying offer en route to a nice free agent payday.
“We use this Trackman technology that dictates arm angles and release points”, Collins said.
There is no good injury news these days for the Mets, just varying degrees of bad fortune. It was the 17th home run this season and fourth in 11 at-bats for the reigning NL player of the week.
Matz, who also has been pitching with bone spurs in his left elbow for much of this season, was slated to make his first start since mid-August on Thursday.
“I think it’s a day-to-day thing”.
Matz is still confident he will pitch again this year. “It’s not a surgery-type deal”.
In his last start, Matz allowed only one hit in 7 1/3 scoreless innings against the Padres. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning in his last start August 14 against the Padres.
Matz said originally it was a curveball that caused him discomfort, but now he simply feels it when throwing.
Beyond deGrom taking the ball Thursday, the Mets will continue to rely on young arms like Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman to fill in. “We’re hoping that in a couple days we can throw him over the weekend and see if he can be ready next week”. “He needs to continue some more therapy”, Collins said.
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NY added a fresh arm to the bullpen Tuesday, recalling right-hander Logan Verrett from Triple-A Las Vegas.
