Matz tossed five innings Saturday against the Nationals, striking out eight and earning a no decision. He allowed just one unearned run on three hits and two walks.

EDGE Analysis

It was a strong performance for Matz, who successfully navigated a tough Nationals lineup. The only run he allowed came after an error, a sacrifice bunt and a single, and he did not allow a single extra-base hit. The only real negative in his performance was that he allowed four stolen bases, though none of them ended up hurting the Mets. It was a promising outing for the 26-year-old lefty following his disappointing first start against the Cardinals. He now has a 3.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts and five walks through nine innings of work.

Matz allowed three runs on four hits and three walks across four innings while taking the loss Sunday against the Cardinals. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Matz worked from behind in the count for much of the day and paid the price on a pair of solo home runs as well as an RBI double spread across three different innings. He managed to punch out four batters, but a trio of walks contributed to his struggles. Matz, who is attempting to bounce back from a miserable 2017 campaign, will look to improve on this showing Saturday against the Nationals.

Matz will start the third game of the season for the Mets on Sunday at home against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

The left-hander started only 13 games last season, opening the year on the disabled list and then ending it there after surgery to re-position a nerve in his elbow, but Matz appeared healthy this spring and posted a 21:9 K:BB in 20 innings. He has yet to throw more than 132.1 innings in a big-league season, though, so while he should improve on his 6.08 ERA and 1.53 WHIP from 2017, his history suggests he'll need some time off over the summer.

Matz will pitch third in the Mets' rotation, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz had been in competition with Zack Wheeler for a spot in the Mets' rotation, but Jason Vargas' broken hand allows them both in to start the season. With Matz lining up as the third starter, ahead of both Wheeler and Matt Harvey, he appears the early to favorite to keep his place once Vargas returns, though that could of course change if Wheeler outpitches him over their opening few starts of the season.

Matz allowed two runs on five hits over six innings while striking out nine in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Jason Vargas' broken hand has ended the competition for the fifth starter spot between Matz and Zack Wheeler, as both will now make the rotation to begin the season, but the lefty is still pitching like he's fighting for a job. After a few rough outings to begin the spring, Matz has a 16:4 K:BB over his last 14.1 innings, but he still needs to prove that he can be effective in the regular season without relying on his slider -- or prove that his elbow can hold up if he does lean on it as an out pitch.

Matz could be ahead of teammate Zack Wheeler in the battle for the Mets' fifth starter role due to the team seeing Wheeler as a better fit for a bullpen role, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

EDGE Analysis

Both pitchers have significant injury histories and both were similarly ineffective in abbreviated 2017 seasons, with Matz posting a 5.05 FIP and Wheeler a 5.03. Wheeler has a profile which looks more likely to play up in relief, as he throws harder with more strikeouts and walks. Matz is more of a sinker and control specialist, a profile which better fits as a backend starter. That could be enough to decide the battle, as there's little else to differentiate the two pitchers. Matz will need a rotation spot if he's to have a significant amount of fantasy value this season, though he'll also need to throw a good deal better than he did in 2017.

Matz tossed four scoreless innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't exactly a sharp outing, as Matz threw only 21 of 53 pitches for strikes, but he did get six swinging strikes and the outing was a marked improvement over his prior two awful spring performances. The left-hander is still in the mix for the Mets' fifth starter spot, but he'll need to keep improving through the rest of camp if he wants to fend off Zack Wheeler for the job.

Matz could be behind Zach Wheeler in the battle for the Mets' fifth starter spot, John Harper of The New York Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

While the team would prefer to have a second lefty in the rotation alongside Jason Vargas, Matz's poor spring so far -- and Wheeler's impressive one -- may force the Mets' hand. He still has time to turn things around before Opening Day, and even if Matz isn't in the initial rotation, chances are he'll get a shot at regaining his spot when one of the other fragile starters hits the DL. Until his performance improves, though, he shouldn't be viewed as much more than an endgame lottery ticket in most fantasy formats given his 6.08 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 2017.

Matz did not make it out of the first inning Sunday after allowing five runs and recording just two outs, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

In a post-game interview, Matz asserted that his struggles were not health related, but simply a matter of him missing his spots high. Even though it's just a spring game, this is a bit concerning for prospective fantasy owners given the young left-hander's struggles last year. The price on draft day will be low given his injury-plagued 2017 campaign, but that could trend upwards if Matz is able to string together a few quality spring outings. There's an inherent amount of upside if Matz can get back some of his 2016 magic, but Sunday's outing did nothing to increase his value.

Matz (elbow) is starting on the mound Tuesday against the Astros, Tim Britton of The Athletic New York reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz has been recovering from August elbow surgery. He'll be fighting with Jason Vargas, Zack Wheeler, Seth Lugo, and Robert Gsellman for the final two spots in the Mets' rotation. He struggled to a rough 6.08 ERA last year in an injury-plagued 66.2 innings, but if healthy could return to some semblance of his 2016 form, when he posted a 3.40 ERA with above-average strikeout, walk, and groundball rates. His health is worth monitoring as he attempts his comeback this spring.