Steven Matz and Seth Lugo will return to Mets’ rotation in Atlanta

The Mets will get Steven Matz and Seth Lugo back in their starting rotation next weekend in Atlanta. One of the two will start one of games of the Mets’ doubleheader against the Braves on Saturday, while the other will start the series finale on Sunday. Robert Gsellman, whose past few starts have gone really well, is slated to pitch the other game of the doubleheader.

Both Matz and Lugo pitched last night in their final starts of their minor league rehab assignments. Matz gave up five runs in four-and-one-third innings for Triple-A Las Vegas, but he struck out five and didn’t walk anybody. Lugo pitched for Double-A Binghamton, and he struck out eight, didn’t issue any walks, and gave up one run over seven innings of work.

Neither pitcher has a thrown a pitch for the Mets yet this year. Last year, Matz had a 3.40 ERA and 3.39 FIP in 132.1 innings with the big league club, though he fared much better earlier in the year and seemed to get worse as he dealt with a significant bone spur in his elbow—which eventually required surgery. In twenty-eight regular season starts in the big leagues, he has a 3.16 ERA and 3.44 FIP.

Lugo, who pitched well for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, threw 64.0 innings for the Mets last year, splitting his time between the rotation and the bullpen. In total, he had a 2.67 ERA and 4.33 FIP.

And Gsellman, who dazzled last year in his major league debut but got off to a really rough start this year, is currently sitting n a 5.53 ERA and 4.46 FIP. But over his past three starts and one relief outing that preceded those, he has a 2.66 ERA in 20.1 innings of work. Given the way things have gone this year, it’s hard to believe the Mets might soon have more starting pitchers than spots in their rotation, but perhaps Gsellman shouldn’t necessarily be the pitcher who has to move to the bullpen.