Mets right-hander Steven Matz to undergo ulnar nerve surgery

The Mets will move their struggling left-handed starter to the disabled list but we don’t know why yet

[Update 8-23-17]

Matz underwent successful surgery to reposition the ulnar nerve in his left elbow. He will obviously miss the rest of the season, but is expected to be 100% and pain-free in time for Spring Training.

[Update 8-21-17, 9:43pm]

The Mets announced on Monday evening that Steven Matz will undergo surgery to reposition the ulnar nerve in his left elbow. The announcement was made a few hours after Matz was said to be heading to the disabled list.

This is the second time in two years that a Mets starter undergoes this surgery. Jacob deGrom had the procedure done at the end of the year last season, and he came back pretty strong, so the hope is that Matz will also be able to make a full recovery, and pitch as well he did before.

[Original post]

Injuries have been the most talked about topic when it comes to this year’s Mets team. Unfortunately, they have taken a huge toll on both pitchers and hitters alike. The way the organization has handled injuries has also been curious, and this apparently is still happening when it comes to lefty Steven Matz.

Prior to Monday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, manager Terry Collins spoke to reporters about his struggling starter and told them that he’d be going on the disabled list. Collins didn’t specify what would cause Matz to be sidelined, which made everything a bit strange.

This latest DL stint may not directly correlated to an injury, though, as Newsday’s Marc Carig tweeted out. It could just be arm fatigue, and coupled with his struggles, the team may have felt it appropriate to shut Matz down.

So far in 2017, Matz is 2-7 with a career worst 6.08 ERA. He strikes have been down, and his walks have been up, so there’s obviously something going on here.

Either way, Collins said he couldn’t talk more in depth about the move to DL Matz until he spoke with Sandy Alderson. Why even mention it to begin with then? Sometimes, the jokes right themselves.

Matz and the Mets have had some issues when it comes to injuries and how to appropriate communicate them. Back towards the end of Spring Training, Matz got another opinion from a doctor outside of the Mets organization who diagnosed him with a strained flexor tendon.

The move confused the Mets front office because their doctors could find anything wrong with Matz at the time. Nevertheless, he started the season on the disabled list until he recovered, and now he’ll be heading back.

Once Matz officially lands on the DL, a corresponding move should be announced. It’ll be curious to see who the Mets bring up.

Next: Mets hitting the pause button? Seems more like rewind button

As far as Tuesday’s start, newly-activated pitcher, Tommy Milone will take the ball for the Mets. The veteran lefty had been sidelined since late May, and if finally making a return to the mound for the Amazin’s in the second half of August.