Steven Matz’s tenure with the Mets was hampered by inconsistency, but the Long Island lefty is off to a brilliant start with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Matz has won all three of his starts with his new team, with a sterling ERA of 1.47, prompting manager Charlie Montoyo to say he has “seen a guy on a mission” following an offseason trade from the Mets.
“At first I wasn’t sure what to expect going into a new organization. I had been with the Mets since I was a kid, since I was 18 years old. Now I’m going to be 30 this year,” Matz said, according to The Athletic. “But when I got into the organization, it really was a breath of fresh air. It’s almost like it energizes you a little bit.”
Matz finished 0-5 and posted a 9.68 ERA over nine games (six starts) last season for the Mets, who shipped him to Toronto for three minor-leaguers in January. He has credited Jays pitching coach Pete Walker – another former Mets pitcher – for helping him refine his breaking and off-speed pitches, including his slider, which he abandoned last season with the Mets.
“You want to show all these new faces what you can do, that type of mentality,” said Matz, who has posted a WHIP of 0.818 over 18 1/3 innings pitched. “Then just different people, you’re trying to pick their brain, from the nutritionist to the trainers to the different coaches to being able to see (Hyun-Jin) Ryu, who has been one of the best lefties in the game for the past five years or whatever. All of that stuff helps, as well.”
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