Mets injury update: Steven Matz has mild shoulder strain, rotator cuff irritation

After receiving an MRI Monday morning, Steven Matz was shown to have a mild shoulder strain and rotator cuff irritation, per Jon Heyman. While Mets officials can take solace in the lack of structural damage, the MRI results will still prompt a decision regarding a disabled list stint for him. If Matz doesn’t start against the Cardinals on Thursday, his rotation spot will again be filled by Seth Lugo, who would be making his second major league start.

The 25-year-old Matz, who underwent Tommy John surgery back in 2010, has pitched through bone spurs this season but has still managed to log 132.1 innings, his second-highest total as a professional. Despite a well-documented injury history—which included a two-month DL stint in 2015 due to a lat muscle tear—Terry Collins has given Matz an increased workload lately. Matz has exceeded 100 pitches six times in his last eight outings, including a 120-pitch outing in a loss to the Diamondbacks.

Now 4.5 games back in the Wild Card race, the Mets’ front office will need to decide whether or not to place Matz on the disabled list.