Steven Matz is a key cog in the New York Mets‘ rotation, a unit that will have to endure the loss of Noah Syndergaard for the next year, at least. Thor was supposed to slot right behind ace Jacob deGrom and in front of Marcus Stroman. Now, Michael Wacha and Rick Porcello will complete the group.
Matz, who is a homegrown Mets’ player like deGrom, believes that a shortened season (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) will not change anything regarding the ace’s chances of winning a third straight Cy Young award in the National League.
While deGrom is notorious for being locked in at all times when he pitches, fewer games would mean that the margin of error dimished. But Matz strongly disagrees with that notion: “No, not really. Everyone will be in the same boat,” Matz said, via the Mets, about deGrom winning another piece of hardware. “He’s still going to go out and dominate. Everyone is playing by the same set of guidelines. It doesn’t matter if the season is short or long, he’s just going to be himself and that will be pretty good.”
How do the Mets can replace Thor’s production?
Jacob deGrom may not feel added pressure because of the amount of games that will be played in 2020 or the possibility of earning another Cy. What he might feel, though, is extra responsibility of carrying the New York Mets’ rotation after Thor’s injury.
But Matz says that any of the current rotation members should think about having to replace Syndergaard, and instead they need to focus on showing their best version on the mound.
“Everyone has to continue to be who they are,” Matz said. “Nobody needs to step up, everyone just has do what they are capable of. Sure, losing Syndergaard is tough, because he’s a great pitcher, but we have guys who have done this before. Everyone on the staff has the feeling that when they go out to the mound they want to dominate.”
The Mets’ southpaw is getting ready for the hypothetical start of the season from his Nashville home.