The Mets lost for a second straight night to the team with the worst record in the National League. They were undone in many ways, including the opposition’s intelligent, aggressive base running and their own folly on the bases.
So what could be worse? Nothing, right?
Well, Steven Matz’s elbow tightened up, and he exited after six innings. Now fans have something to discuss.
“Just a little tender. Maybe fatigued. It’s just stuff you go through during the season,” said Matz, who had a no-decision in the Mets’ senses-numbing, 4-3 loss to the Braves at Citi Field on Saturday.
Neither Matz nor manager Terry Collins was overly concerned. Matz missed a May start with some discomfort in the elbow, and the Mets always are cautious with their young studs.
Collins spoke first about Matz’s fastball command — “It was better tonight than it has been.” — and that was a sign that any elbow problems were not at the forefront of his thinking.
“He got a little stiff, his elbow got a little tight in the sixth,” Collins said. “I thought he threw enough pitches [99, 68 for strikes]. He threw the ball fine. He said it was starting to get tight so we took him out.”
Matz treated the latest episode with all the concern of being shortchanged a quarter at the coffee shop.
“This is something you pitch through. Just a little tight,” said Matz, who gave up four hits and two earned runs while striking out seven in six innings of work.
If anything, the Braves saw nothing amiss. In fact, they were glad to see Matz exit.
“The good thing is we were able to get him out after six,” said Atlanta’s Jeff Francoeur, who touched Matz for a solo homer in the sixth inning.
So overall, Matz was pleased, but Mets fans, being Mets fans, need to have something to stay awake fretting about, and Matz’ elbow seems like as good a target as any — even if the lefty was pleased with the outing overall, his fourth straight start without a win.
“I think it went all right. I got the ball up a little bit in the zone, and they were really aggressive. I thought my command was better than the last few starts,” said Matz, who noted he has focused on the command more between outings. “I want to be more efficient. To only give up four hits and go six innings is frustrating. I’ve got to get ahead of guys.”
Yeah, but the elbow …
“It’s been off and on. During the season, you go through things,” Matz said. “Once you get fatigued, things show up a little more. It’s not a concern for me really.”
Fans, of course, are a different matter