JUPITER, Fla. -- A day after admitting to a bout of left elbow discomfort that puts his Opening Day roster spot in jeopardy, Steven Matz returned to the field Monday to begin a throwing program. Matz threw approximately 55 long tosses at the Mets' Spring Training complex in Port St. Lucie reporting no discomfort after that session.
"I wasn't too worried about it," Matz said. "It felt good."
Matz was originally scheduled to pitch in a Grapefruit League game on Monday, but when he alerted Mets trainers to the discomfort in his elbow, they cancelled that start. Doctors assured Matz that there is no structural damage in his elbow, clearing him to throw off flat ground.
If Matz continues to feel no pain, he will soon advance back to mound work and ultimately a game. But that process takes time, making it unlikely, in manager Terry Collins' words, that Matz will break camp with the team.
"I haven't put too much thought into it, honestly," Matz said. "I'm just focused on today. I got through a good day throwing today. I'll focus on tomorrow now, my work tomorrow. And whatever happens, happens. It's out of my control. I'm just going to try to do the best I can to get on that mound."
Decision soon: Closer Jeurys Familia departed Mets camp Sunday morning for a Monday meeting with Major League Baseball officials in New York. The Mets expect to learn this week if -- and for how long -- the league plans to suspend Familia under its joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. MLB is investigating Familia in regards to his Oct. 31 arrest in New Jersey. Prosecutors dropped charges from that episode, but MLB can still suspend Familia under its policy.
Holding pattern: Outfielder Brandon Nimmo still has not attempted to run on his strained right hamstring, which he aggravated last weekend at Mets camp. Nimmo said that while the process is going "slower than I'd like," he will not run at full speed again until he is certain his body will respond. That severely limits any remaining chance Nimmo has of making the Mets' Opening Day roster.