PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Mets starter Steven Matz's last chance at a roster spot evaporated Wednesday, when he went for an MRI on his sore left elbow. Manager Terry Collins said he does not expect Matz, who has been nursing a tender elbow for the past week, to make the Opening Day roster.
"He still feels it," Collins said. "We thought it would be important to get it looked at."
First complaining of a sore elbow following his March 22 start against the Marlins, Matz initially said he had no plans to go for testing. Instead, doctors cleared the left-hander to throw long toss on Monday, and even to step onto a mound for a few throws Tuesday. At the time, the Mets said they hoped Matz could pitch in an exhibition game as soon as Thursday, which would have put him back on track to make the Opening Day roster.

But with Matz continuing to feel soreness, the Mets sent him for an MRI Wednesday. They were still waiting for the results following the club's 2-2 tie against the Braves.
Matz underwent surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow last September, following a season in which he went 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA. He has struggled through a near-constant string of health issues ever since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2010, including a bone spur in his left elbow and a left shoulder impingement last summer.
In Matz's absence, Robert Gsellman becomes a near-lock to make the Mets' rotation, likely as their fourth starter. That leaves one spot for three candidates: Seth Lugo, Zack Wheeler and Rafael Montero.