Steven Matz heads to disabled list, Corey Oswalt recalled from Las Vegas

The Mets placed left-handed pitcher Steven Matz on the disabled list retroactive to August 1 with a flexor pronator strain in his left forearm. They have recalled Corey Oswalt from Las Vegas to take his spot on the 25-man roster.

Matz complained of forearm tightness after leaving Tuesday night’s blowout against the Washington Nationals in the first inning. An MRI after the game revealed no structural damage, but did find “a little inflammation” in his left arm. The team was initially hopeful that Matz would be able to start Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves, but ultimately opted to shut him down after weighing the pros and cons of skipping his turn in the rotation. Matz is only expected to miss one start before returning to the active roster.

Matz has now landed on the Disabled List in each of his first four big league seasons. Having had Tommy John Surgery shortly after being drafted, Matz has since missed time to a litany of arm and shoulder injuries. After missing two months in 2015 because of a torn lat muscle, Matz has had season ending surgery on his elbow in each of the last two seasons. His 2016 season ended prematurely after having surgery to remove a bone spur in his left elbow, and his 2017 season ended similarly when it was discovered that he needed ulnar nerve transposition surgery to reduce nerve irritation in his elbow. Matz has struggled so far in 2018, going 5-9 in 107.2 innings, with an ERA of 4.35 and an FIP of 4.75.

Corey Oswalt will be starting in place of Matz on Sunday against the Braves. Oswalt will enter Sunday’s game with an ERA of 5.27 and a FIP of 5.26 in 27.1 innings pitched this season.