PORT ST. LUCIE – The Mets received two pieces of possible injury news that could alter their Opening Day Roster but it also illustrates the depth Terry Collins has on his team and how that will both keep everyone sharp while giving his guys time to recover from injuries.
Steven Matz will miss his start tomorrow due to elbow irritation but Terry Collins has a plethora of options to fill the spot. We will see two of those options on Tuesday as Zack Wheeler and Seth Lugo will both start with the team participating in a split squad day. The third option is Robert Gsellman whom I firmly believe has already made this team as a starting pitcher. So if Matz is not ready to start the season, expect the Lugo/Wheeler loser to be in the Met bullpen on Opening Day.
The Juan Lagares issue is a bit more complicated as he is clearly the best defensive centerfielder on the team and his right handed bat may be needed when the Mets see left handed pitching. He was also slated to be an everyday late inning defensive replacement when the team owns a lead so that could be a troubling loss. He is slated to get an MRI of his oblique strain. Terry Collins said that if Lagares is on the DL to start the season it would mean Michael Conforto would be on that Opening Day Roster.
So right off the bat, it appears the Mets depth will get an Opening Week test.