Steven Matz and the Mets were hoping to build upon what was a wonderful pitching performance from Jacob deGrom the night before. It though was not to be as the southpaw struggled against the current class of the NL East as the Metropolitans fell to the Braves by a score of 7-2.
Matz, 28, would go on to pitch just five-plus innings on Wednesday night while allowing five runs on six hits. He would struggle with his command as well, walking four batters while striking out two. It was a start to forget for Matz as the team took another step back after what could have been a big one forward the previous night.
Steven spoke with the media and was very frank on the importance of the game he left.
“We have just got to keep going — this one was on me,” Matz said. “This was a big game.”
Matz was greeted rudely to begin the game when Freddie Freeman opened up the scoring for Atlanta with a two-run home run in the first inning that scored Dansby Swanson.
From there Matz was able to get through the fifth without any further damage when things just unraveled for him in the sixth before being relieved by Chris Flexen.
Steven had a very strong record against Atlanta leading up to the Wednesday start as he was unbeaten in eight starts with a 5-0 record. His ERA against the Braves was 2.78 before the rubber match-up. The third time around the order is what hurt Matz, something he spoke of after the game.
“Seeing them the third time through [the order], that was a big inning for me and they just got me,” Matz said.
Matz tossed 99 pitches on the night with only 56 of those landing for strikes. It was his first start not being able to complete six innings dating back to May 23 against the Washington Nationals.
Wednesday’s rough outing had his record fall to 5-5 on the season and raised his ERA to 4.28 with a WHIP of 1.37 and a FIP of 4.99. His WAR stands at 0.4 thus far in 2019.
