Matz opened the year on the disabled list with what he called a flexor strain in his left forearm, though the Mets dispute that diagnosis. Officially, Matz has been on the 10-day DL since April 2 due to left elbow inflammation, but even general manager Sandy Alderson could not pinpoint a diagnosis when asked last month.
Specifics aside, elbow and shoulder health has been a major issue for Matz ever since the Mets drafted him in the second round in 2009. Now less than two weeks shy of his 26th birthday, Matz has appeared in only 28 big league games, going 13-8 with a 3.