Steven Matz's Return Put On Hold After Mets Pitcher Experiences Shoulder Soreness
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Steven Matz won't return to the Mets' lineup after all Friday.
General manager Sandy Alderson told reporters Thursday the young left-hander was experiencing soreness in his throwing shoulder a day after pitching a bullpen session at Citi Field.
Matz has not pitched since Aug. 14 because of a mild shoulder strain and rotator cuff irritation. He initially was penciled in to return Sept. 1, but was scratched after feeling discomfort when playing catch a day after he threw off a mound. The Mets then hoped he could start Friday's home game against the Phillies, but that won't happen, either.
"We'll see where this takes us, but for the next several days, that shoulder issue has to resolve itself before we would consider pitching him again," Alderson said.
Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa will start in Matz's place. Ynoa made his first major league start Sunday versus Minnesota, allowing one run and striking out eight in 4 2/3 innings.
Even if Matz had returned Friday, manager Terry Collins said he likely would have been limited to 50 to 60 pitches. Collins also had called Matz a "long shot" to start any games in a potential National League Division Series because he didn't believe he would be able to work more than 85 pitches at that point.
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Matz also had been pitching with a bone spur in his elbow before going on the disabled list last month. He is 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA in 22 starts this season.
The Mets (80-72) entered Thursday night in a three-way tie with the Cardinals and Giants for the two National League wild-card spots.
All-Star pitchers Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom have already been lost for the remainder of the season due to injuries.
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