Steven Matz

New York Mets: Diaz Returns to 2019 Form in 5-3 Loss

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New York Mets, Edwin Diaz

It seemed like a game straight out of 2019. Edwin Diaz looked all but certain to lock down a save in back to back games, but a Marcell Ozuna solo home run changed things. The New York Mets fell to 1-1 on the season as they could not respond to the three runs the Atlanta Braves scored in the top of the 10th.

Things ran smoothly for 26 outs, but the Mets could not buckle down the 27th. Steven Matz gave the Mets six strong innings, only allowing one run while striking out seven. The bullpen trio of Jeurys Familia, Dellin Betances, and Justin Wilson got the game to the ninth inning. Diaz retired the two and three-hitter, but he could not sneak a fastball past Ozuna. After he deposited the ball over the right-field fence, the flood gates opened.

Extra Innings Rules

Once the Mets could not push across a run in the bottom half of the ninth, the Mets saw new extra-innings rules for the first time. The Braves took full advantage of the runner on second as Dansby Swanson lined a ball up the middle to give the Braves a 3-2 lead. After Ender Inciarte grounded out for the fourth run, Williams Contreras hit his first big league pitch into the right-center field gap to make it a 5-2 game.

Since manager Luis Rojas put in the defensive team when they had the lead, there was a lot less offense than the starting lineup. They managed only to score one run but left the tying run at first base.

Though Diaz smiled through the pain, it did not hide what happened. It was the exact way he blew saves during the 2019 season, where all it took was a home run to blow the game. Rojas voiced his confidence in Diaz saying the ball was coming out of Diaz’s hand well. Though it was a good pitch, the 2019 history is hard to ignore.

Michael Conforto and Amed Rosario recorded five of the eight Mets hits after they were no-hit for the first 4.1 innings. Max Fried was as solid as the Braves could have asked for, giving up only two runs in five innings pitches.

The silver lining for the Mets that Pete Alonso finally recorded a hit after looking completely lost through his first handful of at-bats.

The Mets send Rick Porcello to the mound for Sunday night baseball in hopes of taking two out of three. It will be a 7:08 p.m. start and face off against another lefty, Sean Newcomb.

 

Steven Matz is wowing the New York Mets with his curveball

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New York Mets, New York Yankees, Steven Matz

New York Mets left-hander Steven Matz is entering his sixth season in the big leagues. Across 103 appearances, 101 of which have been starts, Matz has recorded a 4.05 ERA, a 4.30 FIP, a 1.30 WHIP and 516 strikeouts.

Matz has caught the eye of his new manager, Luis Rojas, in summer training, as the skipper says the southpaw’s curveball has been “really good” (quotes by means of Zach Braziller of the New York Post).

“The velo difference in the ones that he’s throwing is really good,” manager Luis Rojas said of the velocity. “There are some things he can do off that curveball with his fastball, up in the zone or sneak one on. There are so many things he can do. Adding that weapon to the contrast of his pitches and repertoire of his pitches, it will be great for us and himself.”

According to FanGraphs, Matz threw his curveball roughly 14.9 percent of the time while clocking it in at roughly 78.6 mph last season.

Rojas gives props to pitching coach Jeremy Hefner for his work with the Mets pitching staff.

“I know Hef is really good at working on expanding repertoires and teaching details of release points,” Rojas said.

Right-hander Noah Syndergaard underwent Tommy John surgery in March which will keep him off the field this season. The Mets starting rotation projects to be Matz, Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and free agent signees Michael Wacha and Rick Porcello in some order.

Last season Matz recorded a 4.21 ERA, a 4.60 FIP, a 1.34 WHIP and 153 strikeouts across 32 appearances, 30 of which were starts.

Rojas says that both a player’s past and the way they look in summer camp will play a role in finalizing the roster.

“It will be a balance of both,” Rojas said.

“It should be a late, late call as far as getting real close to the season for that,” he said.

Matz is under team control through 2021.

The Yankees And Mets Are Stepping Up To The Plate During The Pandemic

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New York Yankees, Brett Gardner

Right now we’re heading into the end of May and we’d just be wrapping up the second month of the Yankees and Mets season. Two months with no baseball in May is a weird feeling.  Like many of you, fans and players alike, I’m really missing baseball. 

Some players have been keeping baseball around by watching old games, playing MLB The Show, or simply just playing catch. 

New York has been hit the hardest by this Coronavirus. And times like this really show what people are made of.  After 9/11 people really came together, really stepped up. If I could take away one thing from this tragic time, it’s all the good that people are doing. 

In times like these, you look to your idols. And our superstars of New York, past and present have really stepped up. From legends like Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter to future legends, Pete Alonso and Aaron Judge. Different players have been helping out in different ways, from donating food and medical supplies to auctioning off memorabilia for charity.  

How have the Yankees and Mets stepped up?

Former Yankees, CC Sabathia, and Mariano Rivera have been hands-on, with donating meals to those in need. Sabathia and his wife Amber, with the help of their PitCCh In Foundation, has been donating meals to the Boys And Girls Club once a week in the Bronx and their hometown in California. They’ve also teamed up with Fresh Direct for their “Operation 5 Borough Food Drive” which is helping feed kids across New York City.

Along with celebrating health care workers and donating headphones to students in New York City, Yankees rookie of the year and star outfielder Aaron Judge joined in on the “All In Challenge”. As well as Yankees manager Aaron Boone, CC Sabathia, the New York Yankees organization, and others. The “All in Challenge” is where fans can donate money for raffle tickets for a chance to win once in a lifetime experiences like on-field passes, dinner with the players, and more. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to No Kid Hungry, Meals on wheels, Feeding America, World Central Kitchen, and America’s Food Fund.

Aaron Judge’s foundation the “All Rise Foundation” has granted the Boys and Girls Club of America a mini-grant to help launch the “club on the go” program. A program that provides kits to kids with healthy snacks and learning activities to help prevent kids from falling behind during the pandemic.

Another former Yankees legend, Derek Jeter is auctioning off the 2014 All-Star jersey that he wore in his final All-Star game to raise money for the “All In Challenge”

Along with that, Jeter has stated he will be forgoing his salary during the pandemic, and the Marlins have committed $1 million to help the ballpark employees during this time. 

Giancarlo Stanton also donated 15,000 reusable face shields to health care workers in both New York City, and Southern California. Also both the Mets and Yankees have created funds for their employees to get paid during this time that there is no baseball. 

And the new Yankees Pitcher Gerrit Cole may not have even played his first game in pinstripes yet but is stepping up. Cole and his wife, through their foundation, the “Gerrit and Amy Cole Foundation” are donating to Direct Relief, which is an organization that coordinates with nonprofit organizations, and public health authorities to provide essential medical items and PPE to healthcare workers responding to Covid-19.

Pete Alonso may also be a newer addition to New York but has stepped up to the plate in a big way during this pandemic. Looking to give back, Pete and his Fiancé launched their new foundation “Homers For Heroes”. A foundation looking to honor our everyday heroes such as front line workers, veterans, teachers, and coaches.

In March Alonso sent a video message to an 82-year-old life long Mets fan who was just diagnosed with cancer, after her granddaughter took to twitter to reach out to the Mets. The one thing that could really help her during this time was watching her team play. But being that there was no baseball due to the pandemic, Alonso did the next best thing.  Alonso is not only a great player on the field but a great guy off the field as well.

Another Met and Fellow New Yorker, Steven Matz donated $32,000 to hospitals and first responders in NYC through his TRU32 charity. A charity that he started in 2016 to honor the FDNY, NYPD, and Military.

The one story that really stood out to me, was Nick’s Gourmet Deli in East Elmhurst that was closing their doors for good the day the Mets called and asked his deli to provide 1,000 meals. With even more meals in the days to follow. 

The Mets have also donated food from other small businesses which are also helping them to stay open. 

They also helped donate cases of produce to food banks in the local area along with 4,500 meals to health care staff on the front lines. I really applaud the Mets for this move, they are truly paying it forward and helping out their community. 

I always say I’m a die-hard New Yorker, that being a New Yorker is just part of who I am. And these teams represent our city, and couldn’t be more proud of the guys representing it.

Alexa, play New York, New York. 

New York Mets: Steven Matz dismisses notion that short season will affect deGrom’s three-peat chances

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New York Mets, Jacob deGrom

Steven Matz is a key cog in the New York Mets‘ rotation, a unit that will have to endure the loss of Noah Syndergaard for the next year, at least. Thor was supposed to slot right behind ace Jacob deGrom and in front of Marcus Stroman. Now, Michael Wacha and Rick Porcello will complete the group.

Matz, who is a homegrown Mets’ player like deGrom, believes that a shortened season (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) will not change anything regarding the ace’s chances of winning a third straight Cy Young award in the National League.

While deGrom is notorious for being locked in at all times when he pitches, fewer games would mean that the margin of error dimished. But Matz strongly disagrees with that notion: “No, not really. Everyone will be in the same boat,” Matz said, via the Mets, about deGrom winning another piece of hardware. “He’s still going to go out and dominate. Everyone is playing by the same set of guidelines. It doesn’t matter if the season is short or long, he’s just going to be himself and that will be pretty good.”

How do the Mets can replace Thor’s production?

Jacob deGrom may not feel added pressure because of the amount of games that will be played in 2020 or the possibility of earning another Cy. What he might feel, though, is extra responsibility of carrying the New York Mets’ rotation after Thor’s injury.

But Matz says that any of the current rotation members should think about having to replace Syndergaard, and instead they need to focus on showing their best version on the mound.

“Everyone has to continue to be who they are,” Matz said. “Nobody needs to step up, everyone just has do what they are capable of. Sure, losing Syndergaard is tough, because he’s a great pitcher, but we have guys who have done this before. Everyone on the staff has the feeling that when they go out to the mound they want to dominate.”

The Mets’ southpaw is getting ready for the hypothetical start of the season from his Nashville home.

New York Mets: Is the Starting Rotation Actually Set?

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Each day inches closer to the hope of baseball returning, and the New York Mets will have some crucial decision to make with their roster. Seth Lugo is a versatile weapon in the pitching staff and could sneak his way back into the starting rotation during this shortened season.

The original thought when Noah Syndergaard had to get Tommy John Surgery was Michael Wacha sliding in to take his place. As the season gets shorter and shorter, the idea of Seth Lugo moving into the rotation should have weight.

Reasons to Start Lugo

If Syndergaard were healthy, the urgency would not be as high. The Mets need to replace his production, and there is no guarantee Steven Matz, Rick Porcello, or Wacha could do the same. Lugo has a 4.06 ERA during his career as a starter, compared to 2.52 in the bullpen. His K/9 is three better as a reliever. A move to the rotation moves him from a dominant reliever to a solid starter.

There are concerns about Lugo’s workload as a reliever, which limited his usage early in the season. The extended period on the sidelines has allowed his injured elbow to heal. If the season is 100 games and everything works as planned, Lugo makes no more than 20 starts. His average 5.5 innings per start would equal 110 innings. It would be the most he has thrown in a season, but there are ways to limit the number.

The shortened season could include a roster expansion from 26 to 30. The Mets could implement a six-man rotation that includes Lugo in the mix. In that situation, he could pitch out of the bullpen late in the season as well. It would keep him around the 100 inning mark Lugo reached in 2017 and 2018.

Lugo could also remain in the rotation until the Mets acquire a starter. He spends half the season starting and the rest in the bullpen. It becomes another way for the Mets to get the most out of him.

There are plenty of avenues for the Mets to go with Lugo. Teams throughout baseball do not have weapons like these, and the Mets should make the most out of a shortened season.

New York Mets: How Does a Shortened Season Affect the Trade Deadline

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If the Major League Baseball season resumes in June, with the regular season starting in July, it will shift the season entirely. The New York Mets, along with the rest of baseball, will have to assess their needs quicker than ever before.

Thinking of the trade deadline is very distant considering that a spring training game has not been played yet. But the Mets should be planning for every possible situation. They already head into the season without Zack Wheeler, due to free agency, and Noah Syndergaard, to Tommy John Surgery.

Pitching is Key

Whether it is the rotation or the bullpen the Mets will have key questions to answer. In the rotation, it will lean on if Steven Matz can hold down the three spot in the rotation. If not the will need to find a quality mid-rotation start they can lean on to pitch the middle games of a postseason series. Out of the entire rotation, Matz is the biggest variable.

The bullpen features the questions that have been discussed all year. How healthy is Dellin Betances and how does Edwin Diaz/Jeurys Familia rebound from their 2019 struggles. At this point Betances should be fully healthy but who knows about the final two. Diaz has looked fine while pitching during the delay and Familia’s weight loss are steps in the right direction.

If the trade deadline remains on July 31, teams get less than a month to evaluate their roster. The best move would be to move the deadline to August 30 to give teams an extra month to make a trade. An extreme alternative would be to extend the trade deadline through the last day of the season which will create chaos on par with NBA free agency.

The date is likely set with each plan the MLB has laid out and it is only a matter of time before those dates get released along with the season schedule.

 

New York Mets’ pitcher Steven Matz donates to NYC COVID-19 first responders

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New York Mets, New York Yankees, Steven Matz

Who would have thought when the year started that a pandemic would not only cause thousands of deaths, but also stop global economy and suspend major public gatherings? Sadly, that is our current reality. MLB was one of the prominent professional leagues that suspended its operations, and the New York Mets, as well as the other 29 teams, are in wait-and-see mode.

Thankfully, athletes are stepping up and doing their best to help combat the spread of the coronavirus and mitigate its effect on people. That’s the case of Steven Matz, a Mets’ pitcher known for his philanthropist acts.

The New York Mets’ southpaw announced that he will be donating $32,000 to New York City first responders and hospitals currently fighting COVID-19 on the front lines, risking their lives and their health.

The Mets’ pitcher charitable ways

Matz has a charity that is now four years old. Its name is TRU32, and it is a way for him to, according to MLB.com, “honor local firefighters, police officers and military members by inviting them to Mets games at Citi Field. It has since expanded to include an annual fundraiser in conjunction with the FDNY Foundation, allowing Matz to finance scholarships for children with a parent killed or severely injured in the line of duty.”

However, current circumstances require more help, and Matz is ready to deliver. As a result of the current COVID-19 outbreak, the Mets’ hurler will be expanding the scope of his operation.

“Taylor [Matz’s wife] and I continue to be inspired by the countless selfless acts of our first responders, doctors, nurses, & medical staff in the war against COVID-19,” Matz wrote in a tweet. “Thank you for your bravery and dedication serving our community & your patients!”

“The first of three donations just went out to one of the hardest-hit hospitals in NYC, Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, so close to our Citi Field. Please consider joining us in supporting them: http://supportelmhurst.org/donate Thank you & please stay safe! #COVID19Pandemic #TRU32 #LGM,” he tweeted.

Matz has been the Mets’ nominee to the Roberto Clemente award in the last two seasons.

The New York Mets were right not to trade Steven Matz

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Back on March 2, reports surfaced that the New York Yankees, watching their starting pitching depth go down piece by piece, showed interest in New York Mets‘ lefty Steven Matz. After all, back then, the Queens squad had six qualified starters and five available slots in the rotation. They could listen. But they chose not to.

The Mets’ front office decided against the idea of trading Matz knowing that if they did it, the depth they had put together would vanish. Despite rumors saying that the Yankees were willing to part with prized young slugger Miguel Andujar, Matz ended up staying. And it was the right call.

Time and fate proved the Mets right. On Tuesday, the New York Mets announced that Noah Syndergaard has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, an injury that requires Tommy John surgery. The procedure will be performed on Thursday, and will knock Thor out for 2020 and the start of the 2021 campaign.

If the Mets would have traded Matz, they would now have a rotation of Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman, Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha, with unproven youngsters and other veterans vying for the fifth spot.

The Mets have five capable starters, but is that enough?

Losing Thor hurts a lot no matter what, but the Mets now have, at least, five starters with MLB experience and obvious talent.

Now, will they have enough firepower in their rotation to fend off the Washington Nationals, the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East? Before Thor’s injury, the New York Mets looked like a legit contender in the division, capable of knocking the World Champs and the up-and-coming Braves from the postseason. Now, the path just got a little murky. They just lost a 4.4 fWAR player, and 2019 wasn’t even his best season.

Only time will tell what will happen with the Mets this season. We don’t even know if there will be a season, to begin with. But the team made the right decision when they chose to keep Steven Matz.

New York Mets: The Effect the Delay Has on the Mets Starting Pitching

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New York Mets, Jacob deGrom

Before Coronavirus forced the MLB to put a halt on their season, the New York Mets were flexing their biggest muscle throughout Spring Training. Their starting pitching, headlined by back-to-back Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom, was close to unhittable.

All six starters the Mets could have featured all looked regular-season ready. After the Mets closed their facilities on Tuesday as a COVID-19 measure, it left the players to work out on their own. The season likely will not start until May, which forces the pitchers into unchartered territory. They face a second offseason but still have to keep themselves in shape if the season starts up again.

Starting Pitcher Battles

The biggest battle was between Steven Matz and Michael Wacha. Both hoped to emerge as the fifth starter while the other would be a reliever. Matz had the upper hand when Spring Training ended, but now he has to build up momentum again when the season resumes. It will be interesting to see the different ways the Mets players adjust to a sudden layoff with restrictions on where they can be.

One positive to take away is the extra time Dellin Betances, Michael Conforto, Yoenis Cespedes, and we guess Jed Lowrie have to rehab. All four of their injuries are severe ones to heal. They also were likely to all miss opening day. The extra eight weeks, at least, should give them all ample time to get themselves ready to go when baseball makes its triumphant comeback.

New York Mets: Matz Shines, Betances Struggles in 5-0 Loss

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New York Mets, New York Yankees, Steven Matz

The theme for the New York Mets throughout Spring Training has been great starting pitching and a dreadful offensive output. The trend remained the same for Steven Matz and the rest of the Mets as they lost to the Washington Nationals, 5-0.

Matz had everything working and pitched three perfect innings with three strikeouts. Out of the trio including Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha, Matz has undoubtedly been the best. The outing dropped his Spring ERA to a sparkling 1.50.

Betances, Familia Struggle

Dellin Betances made his long-awaited Mets debut. Still recovering from his Achilles injury, he only recorded one out in his appearance. He allowed two walks, struck out one and gave up a two-RBI single to Ryan Zimmerman. To go along with the bad outing he also allowed two stolen bases and uncorked a wild pitch. Betances’s velocity was way down but the one bright spot is Betances having no issues with the Achillies.

Jeurys Familia did not fair as bad as Betances. He made it through his one inning of work but allowed four hits including a home run. Familia did strike out two and his ERA only increased to 2.25 for the Spring.

Nimmo Hot, Cano Cold

Brandon Nimmo continues to make a case to be the Mets leadoff hitter. His 2-for-3 outing brought his average to .435 on the Spring. Out of the nine games Nimmo has played he has only gone hitless in two. Robinson Cano is still searching for a fraction of the success Nimmo has. His 0-for-3 dropped him to .091, but only in 11 at-bats so far. An interesting stat for Cano is that in 15 Spring Trainings, he has only hit below .300, three times.

The shutout put the Mets back as the lowest-scoring offense in Spring Training. On Sunday, they face the reigning Cy Young winner Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros. The Mets will counter with Noah Syndergaard on the mound.