New York Mets manager Mickey Callaway told reporters before Thursday’s game that they aren’t thinking about skipping Steven Matz next turn through with the off day.
Callaway also mentioned that he and pitching coach Dave Eiland sat down with Matz Thursday morning to chat after he lasted only 3.1 innings on Wednesday night in the Mets 9-1 loss.
Matz allowed seven runs (three earned) on five hits, two walks and three strikeouts. He needed a whopping 88 pitches (53 strikes) to get then outs and his ERA on the year went up to 4.98. After two scoreless innings to start his outing, Matz allowed three runs in the third and four in the fourth. Though the Mets didn’t play great defense on the night which included a Matz throwing error.
The left-hander had trouble pitching out of a jam in the fourth, “The game just kind of sped up there on me.I’m really frustrated. I want to go out there and pitch well, and I’m not doing that.”
Matz has gone only 21.2 innings this season in five starts. He has a 1.29 WHIP, 5.45 FIP despite striking out 26 batters and allowing only 18 hits. The long ball (five home runs) and walks (10) have been the big issue for Matz thus far.
Despite the struggles for Matz he is likely to make his next start in the rotation on May 1 against the Atlanta Braves. The Mets have limited options at the moment to replace Matz with Matt Harvey already getting moved to the bullpen and the team liking Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo in their current relief roles.
