The 2018 season was huge step for New York Mets starter Steven Matz for the simple fact that he was healthy enough to make 30 starts.
Matz, 27, was coming off a 2017 season in which he had a 6.08 ERA and was limited to only 13 starts (66.2 innings) because he needed ulnar nerve transposition surgery.
The left-hander finished the 2018 season with a 3.97 ERA, 4.62 FIP and 8.9 K/9 in a career-high 154 innings. Matz hopes to build on his career-highs in starts and innings and is excited about 2019 as he told Hannah Withiam of The Athletic, “This is … the most excited I’ve been in an offseason. You know, I normally don’t read any of the stuff, but I’ve just been checking my phone, seeing what’s going on, seeing who’s new, who’s where.”
Matz credits part of his success in 2018 to throwing two bullpen sessions in-between starts, something teammate and 2018 NL Cy Young award winner Jacob deGrom as well. Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland, first season with team in 2018, has been a long-time proponent of two bullpen sessions between starts.
Matz has been picking the brain of deGrom this offseason, “I do talk to him a lot. He gives me what he’s doing, his routines. And I think the biggest thing I learned is that he threw all last offseason and that’s something I’m kind of implementing this year is keeping everything building.”
Right now, Matz is slotted into the Mets starting rotation along with deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler and Jason Vargas. Rotation depth has not been a target for the Mets this offseason despite the overall struggles of Vargas in 2018 and the injury past of Matz.
