Sports

Why Steven Matz believes health won’t be an issue this season

PORT ST. LUCIE — A Mets official was looking over the pitching staff Friday at First Data Field and offered these words to The Post: “Steven Matz is the key to our rotation.’’

If Matz rolls, so will the Mets.

They desperately need the Long Islander, their only left-handed starter, to finally put together an injury-free season; to pile up innings instead of piling up injuries.

Is that even possible? There have been so many issues for Matz that one Mets official cracked, “He’s running out of body parts.’’

Make no mistake, the Mets still love everything about Matz, he just has to find a way to stay on the mound after going through everything from Tommy John surgery to a torn lat to bone spurs to this latest elbow issue. Matz is convinced the surgery he had in late August to reposition the ulnar nerve in his left elbow is going to be a difference-maker.





On Friday, he looked fluid and effortless. The ball popped. This is the Matz the Mets have not been able to see on a consistent basis over the course of his three seasons in the majors. This is the Matz they desperately want to see in 2018 now that manager Mickey Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland are in charge of getting the most out of the arms.

Finally, this could be the Meet the Matz the Mets always needed.

“I feel really good this season,’’ Matz said with conviction after his bullpen session.

To fix this latest problem Matz said, “They moved the nerve over, they take it out of the groove and they sew it down, basically they moved it out of the way.’’





Here is the good news for Matz: His good friend Jacob deGrom had the surgery in 2016 and so did Hall of Fame right-hander John Smoltz during his career. So this could be a turnaround deal.

Matz is such a likable person, he is easy to root for. He works hard and stays out of trouble, he just can’t stay injury-free. But now, he said, with this latest surgery, a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.

“Coming in, having a good offseason of throwing, I just threw like my fifth bullpen of the year,’’ Matz, 26, said. “I’m feeling really good mentally, too. When you can get that many bullpens coming into camp I think mentally it’s definitely a relief. I feel really good coming into camp so I am excited. All that is huge for me, I would say even more mentally than physically.’’





Matz wears his heart on his sleeve. If he is having an injury situation, it’s hard for him to hide it, and he is showing joy again on the mound or even when he plays catch. It has been such a difficult road.

In 2017 Matz managed just 66 ²/₃ innings as he went 2-7 with a 6.08 ERA. His last start in June against the Marlins and his first start in July against the Nationals, Matz combined for 14 scoreless innings, then his pitching world collapsed again because of injury.

He said there is a noticeable difference in his throwing this offseason. He started throwing in early December.

Matz and the Mets are pumped.





“You can feel the atmosphere is different, the excitement,’’ Matz said. “Even one of the grounds-crew guys said it feels different, I think we are all excited.’’

Matz noted Callaway and Eiland seem “really fired up and really confident that we are going to win with this team. That’s the kind of statement they are making coming in here. There is a drive to win.’’

Matz got married in the offseason to talented country singer Taylor Cain, and they live in Nashville, Tenn.

“It’s been great,’’ he said, noting marriage is a huge step. “You’re the head of the family now.’’

With his Mets pitching family he has one goal.

“I want to take the ball every start,’’ Matz said.

That would be magic for Matz and the Mets. He is the key to the rotation in so many ways.





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