New York Mets: Steven Matz says he is a starter but will do whatever the team needs

The New York Mets may find themselves in an awkward position when it’s time to decide on a fifth starter. It is widely assumed that Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman will be in the rotation, but the next two spots are unclear at this point.

It doesn’t really make much sense to give $10 million to a pitcher and not have him starting games, which is Rick Porcello’s case. That is a strong indication that he will also be in the rotation alongside the previously mentioned trio.

The fifth spot will likely be decided late in spring training. Both Michael Wacha and Steven Matz have been pitching really well. However, it is also true that both of them want to start. It could be a problem for the Mets to approach one of them and tell him he would be a reliever from now on.

A very good spring

Wacha has recently said that the Mets hired him to start games and that’s what he intends to do. Matz, on the other hand, had a very good outing on Sunday. He pitched two scoreless innings in the 2-1 victory against the Houston Astros.

“I think I’m a little bit more [of the mindset], ‘A starting pitcher starts games,’” Matz said to MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo when asked about the possibility of the Mets using openers before his outings. “But whatever I can do to help the team win, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m not going to really complain about it, whatever they really decide. Right now, they told me I’m a starter, so I’m going in as a starter right now and we’ll see what happens. But I kind of like a starter starting the game. That’s my preference.”

Matz notoriously struggles in first innings. He had a 6.21 ERA in that frame last season, compared to a 3.76 mark after that.
The Mets have reportedly considered the idea of using openers in front of Matz or Wacha and picking the best matchup for any of the two when it’s their turn. Nothing has been set in stone yet.

“It’s definitely intriguing, but for me personally, it’s just my whole career, I’ve never done that,” Matz said. “I’m used to starting, warming up for the game, long-tossing, all that stuff. So I think that stuff is different. We’ve never done it in the big leagues with the Mets really, so I don’t know how it is. I don’t know what it’s like.”

The Mets have quality options

It remains a possibility that Wacha or Matz win the job in a more traditional way. And, although it is unlikely, Porcello could lose his spot with a terrible spring. However, he has been pitching well for the New York Mets.

“Right now, I’m a starter, building up as a starter,” Matz said. “And so I’m just trying to get better every day. We’ve got a lot of good pitchers in camp. It’s a great thing for us looking toward our goal of winning the World Series. I’m really not looking at it as a competition, just whatever I can do right now to be the best I can be to help the team this season.”