NEW YORK -- The Mets have penciled both Seth Lugo and Steven Matz in to join their rotation next weekend in Atlanta, according to manager Terry Collins. Both pitchers have been on the disabled list since Opening Day due to elbow injuries.
Both threw in Minor League rehab games on Saturday. At Double-A Binghamton, Lugo struck out eight batters over seven innings of one-run ball, throwing 94 pitches in a seven-inning complete game. General manager Sandy Alderson said earlier this week that Lugo will join the rotation, not the bullpen, upon his return, and Collins confirmed Saturday that Lugo will start either June 10 or June 11 against the Braves.
On Saturday with Triple-A Las Vegas, Matz gave up five runs over 4 1/3 innings on eight hits and no walks with five strikeouts. He threw 90 pitches. Matz has been recovering from elbow soreness that he believes stemmed from a flexor strain in his left forearm -- a diagnosis that the Mets dispute.
Last season, Matz went 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA in 22 starts before shoulder and elbow injuries forced an end to his season. Lugo finished 5-2 with a 2.67 ERA in eight starts and nine relief appearances.
When the duo returns next weekend, the Mets tentatively plan to shift Robert Gsellman to the bullpen, expanding that group to eight while dropping a bench player. The result will be a rotation of Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Lugo and Matz.
"We are pretty confident that our rotation is going to start getting it going," Collins said. "And we're going to need it."