Matz on Mets' roster for Division Series
Rookie lefty a candidate to start Game 4 after missing time with sore back
LOS ANGELES -- Convinced of Steven Matz's health, the Mets finalized their National League Division Series roster Friday with the rookie pitcher's name on it.
Matz rounds out a playoff rotation that includes Game 1 starter Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey, though there is a chance the Mets bring deGrom back on short rest in Game 4.
The best-of-five series against the Dodgers is scheduled to begin tonight at 9:30 ET at Dodger Stadium (TBS).
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No last-minute surprises made it onto the Mets' roster. Starting pitchers Bartolo Colon and Jon Niese both made the bullpen, leaving left-hander Sean Gilmartin as the odd-man out. Gilmartin will continue to travel with the team in case of emergency, however, while several other players will stay in game shape at the team's Spring Training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The Mets waited until the last possible moment to finalize their roster because they were uncertain about the health of Matz, who was nursing a sore upper back for the better part of two weeks. Matz pitched a simulated game Thursday in Port St. Lucie, giving the Mets enough confidence to include him on the roster.
The 24-year-old Matz, who went 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA and struck out 34 batters in 35 2/3 innings over his first six Major League starts, threw 80 pitches in that session in Port St. Lucie. He last pitched in a game on Sept. 24.
"It felt really good," Matz said afterward. "I took two weeks off, so a little rusty in the first couple innings, but felt really good, finished strong, arm feels great, back feels great, so I'm ready to go."
PITCHERS (11)
Tyler Clippard
Bartolo Colon
Jacob deGrom
Jeurys Familia
Erik Goeddel
Matt Harvey
Steven Matz
Jon Niese
Addison Reed
Hansel Robles
Noah Syndergaard
CATCHERS (2)
Travis d'Arnaud
Kevin Plawecki
INFIELDERS (6)
Lucas Duda
Daniel Murphy
Ruben Tejada
David Wright
Wilmer Flores
Kelly Johnson
OUTFIELDERS (6)
Curtis Granderson
Yoenis Cespedes
Michael Conforto
Michael Cuddyer
Juan Lagares
Kirk Nieuwenhuis