Including his last start at Colorado, a sobering four-inning, seven-run implosion versus the Rockies, New York Mets left-hander Steven Matz put together a 3.15 ERA over his previous eight outings (45.2 IP) with 46 strikeouts, 15 walks, and 1.18 WHIP.

The 28-year-old’s 32.3% hard-hit rate over that span ranked sixth among qualified National League starters, closely trailing two his teammates, Zack Wheeler (30.4 percent, fifth) and Jacob deGrom (18 percent).

Heading into Monday’s series opener versus the Marlins, the Mets’ postseason hopes were already dire. Winning their last seven games was nearly imperative, and even that likely wouldn’t be enough to secure a Wild Card spot.

Needless to say, they’d need their resurgent southpaw at his best. Matz set down the Marlins in order in the first, striking out Jon Berti looking at a high-zone sinker to start the game.

Miami broke the ice in the top of the second, taking a 1-0 lead on Jorge Alfaro‘s solo homer to lead off the frame. Matz retired the next three Fish he faced, striking out Austin Dean on a curve in the dirt to end the inning.

A two-out Berti double in the third followed by an RBI single via the newly-extended Miguel Rojas put the Marlins ahead 2-0, but after tossing perfect frames in the fourth and fifth, Matz looked to be finding a groove.

That is, until the sixth. Berti — a real thorn in the Mets’ side this season –, Rojas, and Starlin Castro reached on three consecutive singles to start the inning and Alfaro parked 1-1, high-inside slider 398 feet away in center field, putting the Marlins ahead 6-0.

Matz’ night was finished after five-plus innings of work, allowing six earned runs on nine hits, striking out three and walking none. The lefty’s ERA jumped from 4.16 to 4.37.

One would hope the leaps and bounds Steven Matz has made as a pitcher this season won’t be overshadowed by his last two starts.

He’ll have one more opportunity to control that narrative before the season ends, this weekend versus Atlanta.

For a while there, it appeared the Long Island product had finally figured it all out.

The Mets will be counting that progress when 2020 rolls around.