Steven Matz injury update: Rehab start on Tuesday
By Adam Mankuta
The New York Mets have been through hell and back with injuries this season, but perhaps a beam of light is about to shine on them.
Finally it appears as if there is some potential good news for the beleaguered Mets starting rotation. According to Newsday’s David Lennon, after a rehab appearance tomorrow in Las Vegas, it appears lefty Steven Matz is on track to re-join the team next week if he feels strong following the outing.
Matz has been battling a flexor strain injury that has kept him out of action for the first two months of the season. The oft-injured lefty has always showed promise, but has never put a healthy complete season together, with 2017 being no different.
The return of Matz however would be a huge addition to the pitching staff as the Mets currently rank dead last in all of Major League Baseball with a 5.14 team ERA (the only team over five). With injuries to Noah Syndergaard and Seth Lugo, ineffectiveness from Robert Gsellman and the drama around Matt Harvey, a Matz return is needed for the Mets to compete for a playoff berth, let alone a division title.
Over 22 starts in 2016, Matz had a solid 3.40 ERA and helps the Mets balance balance their right-handed dominant starting staff and will hopefully, for Mets fans sake, be the end to the Tommy Milone/Rafael Montero era of getting starts.
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From a fantasy perspective, for those in year-long leagues, run to your waiver wire and add Matz now and stash him if he is available. For DFS players, take it start by start. If he in fact returns early next week, it will be against the Milwaukee Brewers, a team to avoid. Entering play today, the Brewers rank first in home runs and second in runs scored. A lot can change in a week, but give Matz some time to re-establish himself before using him.