After skipping his scheduled start on Wednesday due to left forearm nerve irritation, the New York Mets have placed left-handed starter Steven Matz on the 10-day injured list, as per a team announcement.
Matz, 28, has pitched to a 3.86 earned-run average this season with a 5.13 FIP, 32 strikeouts, nine walks, and a 102 ERA+ rating over seven starts (35 innings pitched).
Over his last three starts (18.2 innings), the southpaw owns a 2.89 ERA with a 13-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Tim Britton of The Athletic reports that, while eligible to return off the IL on Wednesday, Matz is likely to return to the Mets’ rotation on Thursday in Washington, DC.
The Mets recalled first-baseman Dominic Smith as the corresponding move, giving manager Mickey Callaway a left-handed-hitting option off the bench — something he hasn’t had since Smith was demoted on May 3.
Over 37 plate appearances with the big club this season, the former first-round draft pick (2013, 11th overall) is slashing .333/.459/.400 with two doubles and four runs batted in.
Smith went 2-for-9 with a double and an RBI over two games with Triple-A Syracuse while awaiting his return.
