Matz (elbow) is in danger of missing the start of the season, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz said Sunday that there is no ligament damage in his elbow and he expects to make his first start of the season, but manager Terry Collins admitted to MLB.com that "it's going to be tough for him [to make the Opening Day roster] if he's not going to pitch this week." According to both Heyman and Matt Ehalt of the Bergen Record, the Mets are preparing to turn to Zack Wheeler or Seth Lugo if Matz is unable to go early on. Matz was able to throw off flat ground from roughly 70 feet Monday after being scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League outing.

Matz was able to throw off flat ground from about 70 feet Monday, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Just as the Mets had suggested after Matz was scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start Monday after experiencing elbow discomfort, the lefty opted for a light throwing session instead. Matz reportedly looked fine during the session, and the expectation remains that he'll be able to make his first start of the season, though the team hasn't provided an official timeline for when he'll get back on the mound in spring training. With Robert Gsellman seemingly locking down the final spot in the rotation, Seth Lugo or Zack Wheeler would likely fill in for Matz if his injury lingers longer than anticipated.

Matz (elbow) plans to throw off flat ground Monday, MLB.com's Anthony DiComo reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Mets scratched Matz from his scheduled Grapefruit League start Sunday after he experienced elbow irritation, but the team seems to be downplaying the setback. The fact that Matz will be able to throw in some capacity Monday offers credence to the notion that the lefty is still on track to be ready for the start of the season, though his checkered injury history makes it worthwhile to track his progress. If Matz's latest elbow issue proves to be more serious than the team has let on, it could potentially create room for both Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo in the rotation to begin the season.

Matz has been scratched from his scheduled Grapefruit League start Monday with elbow discomfort, David Lennon of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mets GM Sandy Alderson insisted that Matz isn't dealing with a ligament issue and wouldn't require an MRI, but did note that it was "worrisome" that the left-hander continues to experience recurring injury setbacks. The team is hopeful that by backing off Matz for a few days, he'll be ready to go for the start of the regular season. Even so, Matz still carries plenty of risk as a draft-day investment, given that he previously had a bone spur removed from his elbow last fall. Seth Lugo would presumably be first in line to start if Matz or any of the Mets' other projected rotation members is forced to miss time this season.

Matz allowed one run on two hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

He wasn't particularly sharp, but Matz avoided serious trouble and now sports an impressive 1.04 ERA through 8.2 innings, with Friday's three walks being his first free passes of the spring.

Matz allowed just an unearned run on three hits over three innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals, striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

His ERA remains at 0.00 through his first two spring starts, and the lefty appears to be rounding into form after offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow. With Matt Harvey not yet looking like his old self, Matz could open the season as the Mets' No. 3 starter.

Matz threw two shutout innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, allowing three hits and striking out one.

EDGE Analysis

He was primarily focused on locating his fastball and incorporating a slight hesitation into his move from the stretch to try and keep baserunners guessing, but overall Matz's first game action since having bone spurs removed from his elbow in the offseason was a success. The talented but oft-injured lefty will look to make 30 starts, and win at least 10 games, for the first time in his career in 2017.

Matz (shoulder) is scheduled to make his first Grapefruit League start Monday against the Marlins, Marc Carig of Newsday reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though the Mets purposely delayed his spring debut, Matz entered camp without any notable limitations following an injury-plagued 2016 season. The lefty was sidelined for the final six weeks with a shoulder injury that ultimately didn't require surgery, though he did go under the knife to remove a bone spur from his pitching elbow. Durability concerns have followed Matz throughout his professional career, but when healthy, he's proven himself as one of the better mid-rotation starters in baseball. So long as fantasy owners don't draft Matz expecting him to throw 200 innings, he's still capable of delivering helpful ratios and strikeout totals when he's able to take the mound.

Matz (shoulder) is "ramping up" his throwing program and expects to be fully ready when spring training begins, John Harper of the New York Daily News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz saw his 2016 season end early because of a shoulder injury, and then also had a bone spur removed from his elbow in October. He finished the season with a 3.40 ERA in 132.1 innings, and enters 2017 as the Mets' No. 4 starter.

Matz underwent successful surgery to remove a bone spur from his left elbow Tuesday morning, Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball reports.

EDGE Analysis

The procedure will prevent Matz from pitching again in 2016, but it is anticipated that it will fix any and all issues with his shoulder and elbow that sidelined him since Aug. 14. Matz is expected to be fully recovered at some point during spring training, but heading into next season there will certainly be doubt about his ability to stay healthy given his injury history.