Steven Matz started for St. Lucie (A) on Saturday night and threw one inning while allowing one run, earned, on three hits with two strikeouts.
The young lefthander threw 23 total pitches, 16 for strikes in his first rehab start and later told reporters that he felt no discomfort in his left lat muscle area.
“I was really happy with the way things went,” Matz said. “I felt no discomfort. I probably need a couple of more outings.”
Mets GM Sandy Alderson said Friday that Matz was expected to make three rehab starts before rejoining the team sometime around September 1.
When he does rejoin the team, the Mets will shift to a six-man rotation.
August 14
Mets left handed starter Steven Matz is finally scheduled to begin a rehab assignment this Saturday for Class A St. Lucie.
If everything goes along well, then according to GM Sandy Alderson, Matz should return to the majors “on or around the first of September.”
Matz, 24, has been on the DL since July 10 with a partial tear of his left lat muscle. He just started throwing off flat ground and will plan to do so from a mound this week.
Matz will be expected to throw around 25 pitches on Saturday and gradually build up from there. Once he returns, the team will consider moving back to a six-man rotation to preserve innings for the other young starters as the stretch run begins.
Until then, the Mets have plans to use a spot starter on their next road trip which begins next week with a series against the Orioles at Baltimore. Dillon Gee and Logan Verrett are the favorites for that job.
Before the DL, Matz made two solid starts to begin his major league career, tossing 7 2/3 strong innings in his debut against the Reds on June 28. After that start, he informed the team he felt some lat soreness.
However he started seven days later in Los Angeles against the Dodgers and pitched six scoreless innings to start his career 2-0. But after that start, he underwent an MRI that showed his lateral tear, sending him to the DL.
If all goes well in his rehab, he should provide a nice boost to the rotation and will afford extra rest for Harvey, deGrom and Syndergaard.
