Mets playoffs: Steven Matz will be available out of the bullpen during Game 1 and Game 2

When Noah Sydergaard threw 17 pitches in relief during Game 5 of the NLDS, it opened the door for rookie left-handed pitcher Steven Matz to make his second ever postseason start in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Cubs. Although we now know that that Syndergaard will be making the Game 2 start, Matz still has an opportunity to make an impact during the first two games of the series.

He'll be available out of the bullpen during Game 1 and Game 2, which makes sense since he last pitched on Tuesday against the Dodgers. That would put Matz on three days of rest tonight and four days of rest for Sunday's Game 2. He'll then have another two days off before making his projected start in Game 4 on Wednesday.

Matz could come in handy versus Chicago given the presence of left-handed power hitters Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber. The Mets have already moved Sean Gilmartin onto the roster in order to get more left-handed pitching in the pen, and this move fits right in with that.

Our own Bryan Renzi recently broke down the statistical and intangible benefits to using Matz in the bullpen, and it appears the Mets see things the same way.