PHOENIX — Jon Niese, the only left-handed pitcher in the Mets’ rotation, went through his normal routine here Thursday in anticipation of his next start, on Friday.
Perhaps the best left-handed starter in the organization was doing the same thing about 1,500 miles to the east, at a ballpark in downtown Memphis that has often hosted college baseball games and is named for an auto parts retailer.
His name is Steven Matz, he pitches for the Class AAA Las Vegas 51s, and by every unbiased measure he appears ready to pitch for the Mets immediately.