Well Mets fans, after another gut wrenching loss last night, Steven Matz will try and help them even the series in Philadelphia tonight (oh boy).
Matz is coming off of back-to-back poor starts (both against the Nationals) in which he gave up a combined five long balls in a little over seven innings.
His last start in particular was one to forgot, giving up eight earned runs over 4.1 IP, never really giving the Mets a chance to get in the game.
Ever since is 2015 and 2016 seasons, we have been waiting to see Matz take the next step in becoming a reliable front of the rotation type of arm, but tall left-hander just might not be capable of fulfilling those lofty expectations at this point.
With the rotation paper thin outside of Jacob deGrom (when he’s healthy), Matz needs to step in a big way, and outside of his first start of the year against the Braves, he simply has not delivered.
He still shows the same lack of confidence on the mound when facing any type of adversity, and although he seems to have gotten some velocity back on his fastball, the command of his arsenal is not where it should be.
Speaking of command, his “new” curveball does not seem to be anywhere near game ready either.
At times Matz is able to get a sharp break and spot it where he wants, but other times he will miss badly over the middle of the plate with it and has paid for it via the home run.
If the Mets are to have a shot at making a run for the postseason and doing any damage, then they will need the Stony Brook native to right himself in a hurry, which he can start by shutting down Bryce Harper and the Phillies tonight in Philly.
