Thursday, September 22, 2016

Déjà Vu: Steven Matz hurt again as Mets pitching takes another hit

Prior to the start of the season, the Queen song best used to describe the New York Mets’ starting rotation might have been “We Will Rock You.” As of Thursday, it’s starting to look like “Another One Bites the Dust” is more appropriate.
Steven Matz became the latest member of the Mets rotation to succumb to injury. The team announced Thursday that Matz will no longer make Friday’s scheduled start due to shoulder soreness.
While the Mets have no speculated on a timetable for Matz’s return, many are speculating the injury could impact 25-year-old’s ability to return should the Mets reach the playoffs.
The setback is a significant blow, though it’s not entirely unexpected. Matz had not pitched since Aug. 14 due to a left shoulder impingement, and was working his way back from the injury. He was able to get through a recent bullpen session, fueling speculation that he would return this season, but that no longer appears to be the case.
With Matz sidelined, the fearsome rotation the Mets opened the season with suddenly looks a lot more vulnerable.
To make matters worse, the three big injuries in the club’s rotation are arm-related. Matt Harvey hit the disabled list in July with a right shoulder injury. He had thoracic outlet surgery later in the month. On Tuesday, Jacob deGrom was shut down due to a nerve issue in his throwing elbow. He’ll have surgery at some point in September.
On top of all that, Noah Syndergaard is currently pitching through a bone spur in his elbow. The only member of the Mets starting rotation without any issues is the 43-year-old Bartolo Colon. He’s become a horror movie villain at this point. You can’t kill him.The injury couldn’t come at a worse time for the Mets. Entering Thursday, the club is in a three-way tie with the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants for the two wild card spots in the National League. The Mets were already clinging to their playoff hopes by the slightest of margins. This could be the one injury the team can’t overcome.
Even if Yoenis Cespedes puts New York on his back and singlehandedly carries the Mets back to the playoffs, the team will have to push through October without the help of Harvey, deGrom and now Matz. While we don’t want to doubt Syndergaard, Colon and Robert Gsellman, that far less imposing that the murderer’s row the team ran out there last season.
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