Mets Season in Review: Steven Matz

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Sep 19, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets player Steven Matz (32) during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /

What strikes me off the top is that a lot of Matz’s numbers outside of his earned run average stayed around the same in 2016 from his smaller sample size in the Majors in 2015. Here are a few of those numbers:

Year – 2015 – 2016

WHIP – 1.234 – 1.209

K/9 – 8.8 – 8.6

H/9 – 8.6 – 8.8

Opp. BA – .250 – .257

Opp. OBP – .304 – .306

It’s a positive that he showed he could sustain these numbers, which would have placed him on average in the 25-50 range among all qualified starters with the ability to move forward. Matz has shown that capability to adjust and progress quickly in his career track. Once he got rolling, it didn’t take long for Matz to reach the big leagues, debuting on June 28, 2015.

Sure, his numbers were much better in April and May, but consider the fact that Matz was using his slider that he broke out toward the end of 2015 more often. When the bone spur occurred, Matz practically went away from the slider and adjusted with the other pitches in his arsenal.

To that point, four of his five best game scores from 2016 came in the first two months of the season. He also ripped off a string of seven straight quality starts from April 17-May 25. Plus, his month of May was one to remember: 4-0 in five starts with a 1.31 ERA, .172 opponent batting average, and just four walks in 34.1 innings.

How He Fared in 2016