N.Y. Mets: The Monster Matz is a National League Smash

From the desk of: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Matzie .. Matzie

not mamma, not dadda, 

Matzie ... Matzie ... Matzie

This was supposed to be the season Steven Matz finally matures into a more composed left-handed craftsman, just like last year was supposed to be the season Steven Matz finally matures into a more composed left-handed craftsman.

So far that person remains missing in action.  This objective observer has yet to detect any advanced development in the now 29-year old southpaw from Long Island.  Maybe what they say is true: playing at home in front of family and friends is a bad idea.  Maybe a change of scenery will do him good.  What else is there left to think?

He has so far failed to exceed six innings through five starts.  His first appearance of the season remains the only game to date in which he pitches at least six innings.  In that game he allows one run on two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.  A stellar season debut, for sure.  But it remains his best and only truly effective outing of the season.  Otherwise, he's been pushing the proverbial boulder up Mt. Flushing ever since.  The Mets are 0-5 in games Matz starts.  He owns a 9.00 ERA, 1.565 WHiP and 7.01 FIP in just 23 innings pitched.  He is averaging just 4.2 innings per start, and presently leads all of baseball with four losses.

THROWING FLUFF & FITS INSTEAD OF FASTBALLS

From his rookie season in 2015 through 2018 Matz utilizes his fastball at a rate of 62.2 percent.  Starting last season he's been throwing his fastball at a decreased rate of 51.5 percent - a noteworthy difference exceeding ten percent.  Conversely, over his first four seasons he utilizes his change-up at a rate of only 12.7 percent.  Last season his frequency increases to 20.1 percent, and this year he is up to 27.1 percent, which is an increase of near 15% since 2018.  His curveball (16.8%) remains relatively level.  But whereas last season he threw his slider at a rate of 14.4 percent this season (3.6%) it has all but disappeared.  Making this somewhat more ponderous is that his fastball is being clocked this season at a career best 94.7mph, while all his other pitches are in line with career averages, all according to Fangraphs.

DANGEROUS PEOPLE WITH STICKS IN THEIR HANDS

At 29-years of age and in his sixth season in the bigs one would think he'd be in the midst of his prime.  Instead Matz is yielding more hits than ever before.  He brings a career 9.1 H/9 average into this season, but is presently 2.6 above that mark with a problematic 11.7 H/9 average.  He isn't just hittable, he is smashable, if there exists such a word.  Matz brought a career 19.7% line-drive percentage into the 2020 season.  The last two seasons have been his best in that regard - a career best 15.4% line-drive average in 2018 and a 19.8% line-drive average in 2019.  This season that number has spiked to 28.8%, which is 8.7% above his career average.  His HardHit% also stands at a career high 42.7 mark.  Never before in his career has he breached the 40 percentile for a full season, also according to Fangraphs.

Did I mention Steven Matz leads the National League in runs allowed, and leads all of baseball in home runs allowed?

SOMETIMES A MANAGER HAS TO DO WHAT A MANAGER HAS TO DO

Mashable Matz .. he's a league wide smash .. hitters catch on in a flash .. do the Mash.

Perhaps Steven and the Mets rookie pitching coach should rethink this change-up strategy.  Otherwise, the rolodex of excuses is near exhausted.  On Thursday Matz was tentatively due to make his sixth start and the 107th start of his major league career while featuring a career 4.25 ERA.  But to hear Luis Rojas speak, it seems nothing is guaranteed.  In fact, Seth Lugo has already been named starter as of Wednesday night.  Not so sure that's the right move either.  However, with the Mets rotation presently in shambles Rojas is at a point where if nothing ventured, nothing is gained.  

Manager's call ... good for him.

Matz is being relegated to the bullpen ... do the Mash.