Tagged: MLB
Matz likely headed to DL
There has been a report today by MLB insider Jon Heyman that Steven Matz was diagnosed with a mild shoulder strain and rotator cuff irritation after meeting with team doctors in New York today. This surely means that Matz will not make his next scheduled start on Thursday against the St. Louis Cardinals in a critical series with postseason implications.
The most likely scenario at this point is that Matz is sent to the 15-day DL as he already would have missed two starts due to his shoulder woes. Seth Lugo is on the odds on favorite to get the start Thursday night for the Mets. The 26-year old Lugo threw 6.2 innings of three run ball despite taking the loss against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night.
Matz who is already pitching with a bone spur in his left elbow, took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, on 105 pitches against the San Diego Padres in his last start on August 14th. The 25-year old left-hander has always been labeled with injury concerns, and it is a disappointing development for both him and the Mets, as the Mets can’t seem to shake injuries to their roster this season. There is no timetable as to how long Matz will be out, but at the minimum we shouldn’t expect to see him for a couple of turns through the rotation.
Matz had posted a 9-8 record with a 3.40 and 129 strikeouts in 132.1 innings this season.
*(UPDATE: 4:00 PM CT)*: MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the New York Mets will recall right-handed pitcher Robert Gsellman in a corresponding move. According to Rosenthal the plan is for Gsellman to pitch out of the bullpen for the Mets initially. The 23-year old pitcher was scratched from his start in Las Vegas today which suggested he may be heading to St. Louis to join the big league club.
Gsellman is ranked 14th by MLB.com in the Mets farm system and he has posted a combined 4-9 record with a 3.99 ERA and a 88/31 K/BB split in 20 combined starts between Double-A and Triple-A.
Lineups: Mets vs. Giants 8:05 pm et.
New York Mets (61-62):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Jay Bruce (L) RF
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. James Loney (L) 1B
7. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Noah Syndergaard (L) P
SP: Noah Syndergaard RHP (10-7, 2.76 ERA)
San Francisco Giants (68-55):
1. Denard Span (L) CF
2. Eduardo Nunez (R) 3B
3. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
4. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
5. Hunter Pence (R) RF
6. Joe Panik (L) 2B
7. Gregor Blanco (L) LF
8. Trevor Brown (R) C
9. Jeff Samardzija (R) P
SP: Jeff Samardzija RHP (10-8, 4.24 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on ESPN.
Jim Henderson activated off DL
The Mets have made a roster move prior to this afternoon’s game against the Giants by activating reliever Jim Henderson off of the disabled list, and optioning reliever Erik Goeddel back down to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Henderson has been on the disabled list since June 19 due to a right shoulder impingement. While on the disabled list the 33-year old reliever suffered a setback during his first rehab assignment by suffering a hamstring injury last month. Manager Terry Collins also wanted to make sure Henderson’s velocity returned to form upon his return to the big league club. Henderson will return to his normal seventh inning role with a 4.26 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched for the Mets this season.
The 27-year old Goeddel will return to Triple-A after pitching in 28 innings for the Mets so far this season. Goeddel posted a 4.18 ERA with 27 strikeouts but had posted a 9.00 ERA over his last five innings pitched. Goeddel will hope to rejoin the club in September when rosters expand.
Lineups: Mets vs. Giants 4:15 pm et.
New York Mets (60-62):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
4. Neil Walker (S) 2B
5. Wilmer Flores (R) 1B
6. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
7. Justin Ruggiano (R) CF
8. Alejandro De Aza (L) RF
9. Bartolo Colon (R) P
SP: Bartolo Colon RHP (10-7, 3.38 ERA)
San Francisco Giants (68-54):
1. Denard Span (L) CF
2. Angel Pagan (S) LF
3. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
6. Hunter Pence (R) RF
7. Eduardo Nunez (R) 3B
8. Joe Panik (L) 2B
9. Matt Moore (L) P
SP: Matt Moore LHP (7-9, 4.14 ERA)
Today’s game can be seen on SNY and Fox Sports 1.
Where are you Jay Bruce?
Since Jay Bruce has joined the Mets lineup on August 2nd, the Mets are 6-11 in the 17 games he has played. Bruce is only hitting .176 (12-75) with only two home runs and six RBIs, while whiffing 16 times. Now many baseball people said the trade wasn’t a good fit for either side and it seemed like a desperation heave by Sandy Alderson and company. I however believed it was a good trade as Bruce was the top run producer in the National League, while also being one of the the most clutch hitters with runners in scoring position something the Mets lacked. I get it Bruce wasn’t going to come over and have an impact such as Cespedes did last year because they are two totally different players. To me Jay Bruce is almost the same kind of player that Lucas Duda is offensively, high power numbers without hitting for a high average.
But we have hardly seen the numbers Bruce was producing with the Reds prior to coming over to the Mets. Granted the Mets have struggled to put a healthy lineup filled with regulars around him, but Bruce has turned into what the Mets were prior to acquiring him. A lowly .293 slugging percentage isn’t what the Mets signed up for when they gave up highly touted minor leaguer Dilson Herrera for Bruce. Bruce will receive a day off today after failing to come up big in last night’s contest, where for the first time he was surrounded by a regular lineup with the return of Asdrubal Cabrera and Yoenis Cespedes. The frustration on Bruce’s face in the dugout last night said it all.
While his objective is to help the Mets reach the postseason over the next couple of weeks, the way things have gone recently Bruce may be soon playing for a spot on the team for 2017. Bruce has an affordable $13 million team option that the Mets will surely pick up unless they plan to cut ties altogether and buy him out for $1 million (which would be highly unlikely). But if he can’t turn it around the Mets may simply deal him if they are able to retain Cespedes which should be their top priority heading into the offseason.
Will the real Jay Bruce please stand up.
Lineups: Mets vs. Giants 10:15 pm et.
New York Mets (60-61):
1. Jose Reyes (S) 3B
2. Kelly Johnson (L) 2B
3. Jay Bruce (L) RF
4. Yoenis Cespedes (R) LF
5. James Loney (L) 1B
6. Curtis Granderson (L) CF
7. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
8. Rene Rivera (R) C
9. Seth Lugo (R) P
SP: Seth Lugo RHP (0-1, 2.65 ERA)
San Francisco Giants (67-54):
1. Denard Span (L) CF
2. Angel Pagan (S) LF
3. Brandon Belt (L) 1B
4. Buster Posey (R) C
5. Brandon Crawford (L) SS
6. Hunter Pence (R) RF
7. Eduardo Nunez (R) 3B
8. Joe Panik (L) 2B
9. Johnny Cueto (R) P
SP: Johnny Cueto RHP (13-3, 2.97 ERA)
Tonight’s game can be seen on SNY.
Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera are back!
The Mets have activated both outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera off the 15-day DL prior to tonight’s contest. In a corresponding move infielder T.J. Rivera and utility player Ty Kelly have been optioned back to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Cespedes who has been battling a quad injury since July, was finally placed on the disabled list on August 3rd after struggling at the plate as well as being in and out of the Mets lineup with soreness in his quad. Cespedes will provide a huge boost to the Mets lineup as he is their best offensive player. It will also be exciting to see both Jay Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes patrol the outfield for the first time since Bruce’s acquisition at the Trade Deadline. Cespedes was hitting .289 with 22 home runs and 59 RBIs in 94 games prior to going on the disabled list.
Cabrera is also making his return tonight after suffering a strained left patellar tendon back on July 31st rounding third base. The injury at the time looked like it had the potential to be season ending so it is nice to see Cabrera back with the big club. Cabrera will regain his shortstop duties with Jose Reyes moving back over to third base. The switch-hitting shortstop was hitting .255 with 13 home runs and 33 RBIs in 100 games prior to hitting the DL.
Both Rivera and Kelly will head back to Las Vegas as two of the top hitters in the Pacific Coast League with well over .300 averages. In fact Rivera leads the PCL with a .349 average, with Kelly not too far behind with a .342 average. Both players served servicible roles for the Mets and we can expect them both back in September if not sooner if another injury decides to peak it’s head.
Are we watching the Mets season end before our eyes?
It’s a fair question to ask and one that could be answered rather simply with the way things have gone for the team over the past several weeks. The Mets have been ravaged with injuries, not hitting when the pitching is on and not pitching when the hitting is on, as well as their manager being speculated to be on the hot seat by baseball insiders. I noted that prior to their last homestand against below average opponents that stretch could possibly make or break their season. And it looks like that homestand, and the trip to Arizona have spoken quite loudly. Continue reading
Josh Edgin demoted, Smoker recalled.
The Mets are expected to make a slew of roster moves prior to tonight’s game due to returns of Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera off the disabled list, but the team made a bullpen move first. Left-handed reliever Josh Edgin has been sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas and the team has recalled left-hander Josh Smoker from Triple-A Las Vegas.
The 29-year old Edgin has made five appearances for the Mets out of the bullpen and posted a 9.82 ERA in 3.2 innings pitched. That inflated ERA can be attributed to Edgin giving up four runs in an inning of work against the Arizona Diamondbacks on August 17th. Edgin more likely than not will be back up with the big club before the end of the season.
The 27-year old Smoker is currently ranked as the Mets 28th best prospect by MLB.com and will be making his big league debut when he enters a game. Smoker has been described as being built like a Coke Machine for his sturdy build at 6’2 and 250 lbs. In 57 innings pitched at Las Vegas, Smoker has posted a 4.11 ERA to go along with 3 saves and 81 strikeouts. He has only walked 18 batters, and has been praised by many scouts for the velocity he brings to the mound. Smoker can reach the upper 90’s with his fastball, but comfortably sits in the mid 90’s with his repertoire. He will fit right in with the flamethrowers that the Mets currently have in their bullpen.
Matz scratched from start.
The injury toll continues to add for the Mets this season. Starting pitcher Steven Matz has been scratched from his start tonight against the San Francisco Giants with a shoulder injury. Matz reportedly has been dealing with shoulder discomfort in his pitching arm but he believes the issue is nothing serious. The hope is that he will only miss one turn in the rotation.
“I was throwing on flat ground and I felt a little twinge in my shoulder,” Matz stated after last night’s defeat. “It was bothering me a little bit. And then, next day, I was throwing and I was still feeling it, so I didn’t throw my bullpen, hoping it would get better. I was just kind of taking it day by day. There’s some discomfort in there. I think you go through stuff all the time throughout a season, but it didn’t respond the way I’d like it to.”
Right-handed rookie Seth Lugo will make the spot start tonight for Matz. In nine appearances out of the bullpen for the Mets, Lugo has posted an 0-1 record with a 2.65 ERA, while striking out 16 batters and only walking six. This will be the 26-year old pitcher’s first career start at the big league level.
Above The Mendoza 