Mets Matsuzaka.jpg

Daisuke Matsuzaka has a 3.48 ERA this season out of the bullpen.

(Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

MIAMI -- Daisuke Matsuzaka hit his first bump as a reliever Monday night. He came into the eighth inning trying to protect a three run lead but left after being unable to.

Afterward, he said he regretted giving up a win for starting pitcher Jon Niese and the Mets -- visibly taking the performance hard.

Still, Matsuzaka has a 3.48 ERA this season out of the bullpen and Terry Collins thinks he's adjusting well to the role.

"He’s been outstanding," the manager said. "He had a bad night and that’s what it happens in the game. Nobody’s more frustrated. It’s a new role and again he probably doesn’t like it but he’s accepted it and done he best the can with it. That’s why he tries to do what’s right."

Matsuzaka will not be available tonight after throwing 29 pitches Monday and 2 2/3 innings Saturday.

It will be a chance to rest his arm for a pitcher who throws constantly outside of games and seemingly more than other relievers. He has also has a prolonged warm-up routine that demands him to begin throwing in the fourth inning.

"All I can tell you is I’ve seen it," Collins said. "Do I condone it? Do I necessarily like it? That’s the way. The one thing I know is you try to change those guys that have stuff they do all the time is if they have a bad night that’ll be a reason. Only thing I tell him is monitor the effort. He wants to stay loose and play catch, I get it."

Collins also said that Matsuzaka is not too far embedded as a reliever to not be able to stretch out for a start.

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METS

Juan Lagares – CF

Daniel Murphy – 2B

David Wright – 3B

Curtis Granderson – RF

Chris Young – LF

Lucas Duda – 1B

Travis d'Arnaud – C

Ruben Tejada – SS

Bartolo Colon – RHP

MARLINS

Christian Yelich, LF

Derek Dietrich, 2B

Giancarlo Stanton, RF

Casey McGehee, 3B

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

Garrett Jones, 1B

Marcell Ozuna, CF

Adeiny Hechavarria, SS

Henderson Alvarez, RHP