It will be 11 days since Steven Matz last pitched in a game when he toes the rubber Monday night against the Marlins. But the rookie left-hander from Long Island isn’t worried how the long layoff will affect him.
“I’m excited to get the first one out [of the way], and go out there and pitch,” Matz said Sunday before the Mets’ 5-2 loss to the Phillies at Citi Field. “I just threw a bullpen [session on Saturday], and felt really good. I feel good going into it.”
Matz hasn’t appeared in a game since pitching against the Cubs on April 1 in Las Vegas.