Steven Matz Out At Least 5 Weeks
By Bill Pivetz
Jul 5, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher
Steven Matz(32) throws the ball in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets just can’t win. And I’m not talking about winning games. The team has a very good rotation. Their hitting, not so much. However, their pitching just received some bad news Thursday. Top pitching prospect, Steven Matz, suffered a lat injury and will be out for at least three weeks.
Fantasy owners were chomping at the bit for the announcement of Matz’s call up. His ownership percentage was rising by the day. His peak percentage was at 65 percent in ESPN.com leagues. Now, it all comes crashing down. For now.
Steven Matz’s debut was something no one was expecting. He went 7 2/3 innings with two earned runs on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts. His next start was even better, six shutout innings with two hits, two walks and eight strikeouts.
As a result, the Mets go back to a five-man rotation. Either Bartolo Colon or Jon Niese will replace him in Sunday’s game.
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As for Matz, he as little value in redraft leagues. Matz will likely not even throw a ball for three weeks. He is likely to return in five weeks, which lands him in the middle of August. Getting five more starts does not make Matz worth keeping, especially with the talent on the waiver wire in most leagues.
In keeper or dynasty leagues, Steven Matz is worth a roster spot. Pitching fluctuates so much that Matz may be a top-10 guy in just a couple of years. He has the stuff to become an ace for the Mets later in his career, so don’t freak out just yet.
If you need a replacement pitcher, Andrew Heaney (35 percent owned), Cody Anderson (49.2 percent) and Kendall Graveman (26.2 percent) are all pitching well and are worth owning in all leagues.