MIAMI — Steven Matz’s season is officially over after it was decided Tuesday he shouldn’t try to push his barking left shoulder.
The Mets left-hander will rest the shoulder and undergo surgery next week to remove bone spurs from his elbow, according to the club. Matz had been pitching with bone spurs since at least early May, treating the discomfort with medication.
But Matz’s biggest issue lately had been the shoulder, which flared up last month — he was placed on the disabled list on Aug. 22 and never improved to the point he could return to game action. The Mets have called Matz’s shoulder issue an “impingement.”
Matz became the fourth member of the Mets’ heralded Fab Five to go down for the count in 2016, joining Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler. The fifth member of the group, Noah Syndergaard, has pitched through a bone spur in his right elbow.
Harvey has been sidelined since early July, when he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and underwent subsequent surgery. The Mets are expecting him back for spring training next season. DeGrom recently underwent surgery for a displaced ulnar nerve in his elbow and is also expected back for spring training next year.
In addition to losing Harvey, deGrom and Matz, the Mets never received even one start from Wheeler, who was expected to rejoin the club in July, after completing rehab for Tommy John surgery. But Wheeler had three setbacks during his rehab and was shut down earlier this month. The Mets also are hopeful he will be ready in spring training.
Rookies Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman have helped fill much of the void in the rotation, but the Mets haven’t been as fortunate in receiving desirable results from the likes of Rafael Montero and Gabriel Ynoa.
Even after Matz was scratched from his scheduled return last Friday, there was hope in the organization he might at least improve to the point he could pitch from the bullpen if the Mets reach the playoffs.
Matz’s elbow surgery will take place next week in New York, according to the club.
The rookie Matz finished the season 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA in 22 starts for the Mets.