Steven Matz to have season-ending elbow surgery to remove bone spur

What has long been suspected is now official: Steven Matz won’t pitch again in 2016.

The Mets had already acknowledged that the pitcher’s slow recovery and persisting discomfort were strong indicators that he wouldn’t be returning to mound this year. After visiting a on Monday for an examination of his left shoulder, though, Matz will have surgery to remove the bone spur in his left elbow soon, ending his season.

Matz last pitched on August 14 before hitting the disabled list with left shoulder discomfort. He attempted to return from that ailment, but he was scratched from his planned start against the Phillies on September 23 because he continued to experience soreness. As Marc Carig of Newsday reported, Matz does not need surgery on his shoulder.

Pitching through the bone spur for much of the season, Matz had a 3.40 ERA in 132.1 innings over 22 starts. In his major league career, he has a 3.16 ERA and 3.43 FIP in 28 regular season starts. He made three starts for the Mets in the postseason last year and had a 3.68 ERA in them.