Mets Rumors: Steven Matz Unlikely To Be Ready For Opening Day
New York Mets Rumors: Starting pitcher Steven Matz has been ruled out for Opening Day because of his left elbow.
Recent New York Mets rumors are not positive. Starting pitcher Steven Matz had his last start skipped because of tenderness in his elbow. It would seem that there may be something to that elbow tenderness.
Matz underwent an MRI on his left elbow on Wednesday according to Terry Collins. Collins didn’t have any information about the test, but Matz has been ruled out for Opening Day.
Matz threw for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, but still felt something in his elbow. As a result, he went for the added test and has now been ruled out.
Matz dealt with problems in his left elbow last season. His season was ended prematurely as he underwent surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow. Matz has been injured constantly during his major league career, also dealing with shoulder ailments since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2010.
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"“It’s worrisome that he continues to be injured off and on,” Mets GM Sandy Alderson told reporters this past weekend. “That’s the difficulty. We don’t think it’s serious. On the other hand, starting pitchers are relied on every five days. I’m not sure exactly where this is going to take us.”"
Alderson has reason to be concerned. Matz has never thrown more than 140 innings in his professional career. He comes with major injury concerns and it is difficult for the Mets to count on him; he has made only 28 starts in the past two seasons with the Mets.
With Matz ailing, the Mets will have to shuffle their starting rotation. Zack Wheeler is being eased back after missing the past two seasons because of Tommy John surgery. Robert Gsellman will probably be in the starting rotation as long as Matz is sidelined. Wheeler and Seth Lugo could also be in the mix.
This is a problem the Mets were hoping to avoid. The starting rotation can be dominant, and on paper, it is very impressive. But, the Mets have yet to have all their young guns in the rotation at the same time and it will not happen to begin the 2017 regular season.
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There has been no timetable for Matz making his return. But, given his injury history a trip to the disabled list is not out of the realm of possibilities.