New York Mets pitcher Steven Matz is dealing with a bone spur in his left elbow that has delayed his next start but could eventually require surgery that would put him on the shelf for a considerable time.
Continue for updates.
Matz Has Start Pushed Back, Will Eventually Need Surgery
Tuesday, June 28
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com passed along word that Matz will now pitch Thursday against the Chicago Cubs instead of his slated start on Wednesday against the Washington Nationals.
However, DiComo added the Mets believe Matz’s bone spur will need surgery and the team is hoping that procedure can be done after the season.
On Monday, ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin noted that Logan Verrett would take the hill in Matz’s place if he was unable to make the start.
Matz Comments on Injury
Monday, June 27
“I feel like it’s something that I can pitch through, so that is something I have been doing,” Matz told Mike Puma of the New York Post. “I definitely wasn’t finishing my pitches last time in that fifth inning. There were balls definitely up, but if that’s the reason I don’t know. I can’t say.”
Matz’s Bone Spur the Latest Ailment for Mets’ Rotation
Fox Sports 1’s C.J. Nitkowski explained the possible repercussions of pitching through a bone spur in the elbow:
Losing Matz for any significant amount of time would hurt the Mets. He is 7-3 on the year with a 3.29 ERA. However, New York may need to treat this problem before it gets worse. Matz hasn’t recorded a win in his last five starts, with four of those resulting in team losses.
The Mets have the second-best team ERA in the National League behind the Cubs. However, Noah Syndergaard is also dealing with a similar injury, per Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News, so this issue could become even more harmful for the team moving forward.
Statistics are courtesy of ESPN.com.
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