PHOENIX -- The Mets' rotation shuffle, which they announced Wednesday night after landing in Arizona, was due to a blister that tore off of Steven Matz's left middle finger earlier this week. After team athletic trainers treated the blister, they recommended the Mets push Matz's start back from Thursday to Saturday -- a "luxury," as Matz called it, that the team could afford after skipping Jason Vargas' last turn through the rotation.
A relatively fresh Vargas started Thursday in Matz's place, and the team is confident Matz will be at full strength Saturday. The left-hander threw a light side session at Chase Field without issue.