Matz to see team docs
SAN FRANCISCO — The Mets are still hopeful to have Steven Matz this week for their crucial series with the Cardinals. The Long Island lefty was heading to New York Sunday night to have his shoulder examined by team doctors Monday.
The Mets are holding his next scheduled start open for him, listing their starter for Thursday’s finale against the Cardinals as “TBA,” until they hear the diagnosis.
Terry Collins reiterated Sunday that he wants to give his starters an extra day of rest with Monday’s off-day, so he is not considering bringing Bartolo Colon back for that start. It will be either Matz or Seth Lugo, who made an impressive spot start in Matz’s spot on Friday.
Lugo allowed three earned runs on seven hits in 6.2 innings in the Mets’ loss, but impressed Collins with his ability to aggressively go after hitters.
“One thing about him. He’s got a good arm,” the Mets’ manager said. “When he’s been in the rotation in the minor leagues, he’s always tried to save it a little bit, instead of over throwing, and break out that 96 early. He knows he’s got it when he needs it. He’s done a very nice job here.
“We sent him down and he got a couple starts, scuffled in TripleA. It’s the (Pacific Coast League),” Collins said with a shrug. “I thought the other night, even though they hit some balls pretty hard, he didn’t shy away from the strike zone. That’s impressive.”
Lugo has also made nine appearances out of the bullpen this season, pitching 17 innings to a 2.65 ERA.
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Since the Mets traded for Jay Bruce on Aug. 1, Collins had not put his ideal lineup out there until Sunday night. Collins sat Bruce Saturday to try snapping him out of his slump and before that he was without Asdrubal Cabrera and/or Yoenis Cespedes due to injuries.
“This was a nice lineup to put out there tonight,” said Collins, even though it managed just two runs on Cespedes’ two-run home run.
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Lefty reliever Jerry Blevins was unavailable Saturday, but the reason depends on whom you ask. Collins said that he believed Blevins had forearm tightness, so he didn’t want to go to him. Blevins said Saturday and confirmed again on Sunday that he was not available because of a regular maintenance day off.
“It’s just a normal thing. I pitched a lot. I think maybe you might be a little misinformed on the information; it’s just yesterday was a daily rest, one of those things I pitched quite a bit in the game and even when I didn’t pitch in the game I warmed up a few times,” Blevins said. “It was a scheduled day off.”
He did have his left forearm wrapped Friday night, but said at the time it was part of his normal routine. Either way, Blevins told reporters and Collins he was available for Sunday night’s game.