Matz heading to New York, could return to rotation Friday

He threw a pain-free 30-pitch bullpen session that included every pitch in his arsenal on Saturday at the team complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Terry Collins said September 18 that he would like Matz to throw his bullpen in NY, instead of in Port St. Lucie, so pitching coach Dan Warthen can better evaluate him. Matz said a start Friday is realistic.

“Feeling good, and I’m ready to go”, he said.

He last pitched on August 14, when he allowed one hit in 7.1 innings while walking two and striking out eight against the Padres.

The 25-year-old has started 22 games for NY this season, going 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.

“I don’t think so, no”, said Matz, excited to return to a Mets squad that has a one-game lead for the first wild-card spot. “So we’ll see where he’s at when he comes with his side on Wednesday and see what develops from that”. “I’m going to just go up there and try to help them as best I could”.

Matz will be on a pitch count if he takes the mound on Friday, but if all goes well, he’d be able to build his stamina in advance of the playoffs.

If Matz is not cleared to start Friday, Gabriel Ynoa would get the ball.

But when Matz returned last September, he went 2-0 with a 2.86 ERA in four starts.

“We’re in a pennant race here”, Matz said. Both Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom are done for the season with elbow injuries, while Zack Wheeler hasn’t pitched at all since undergoing Tommy John surgery in early 2015.