In a rotation that consists of Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, it has been Steven Matz who has emerged as the most reliable arm for the Mets this year.
The southpaw proved that on Tuesday night, the day before his 28th birthday, tossing six innings and allowing just two runs -- a two-run home run to Cody Bellinger -- on four hits and three walks while striking out six for his fourth win of the season.
"That's the best I've ever seen Matz," manager Mickey Callaway said afterward. "He did it all and did what you had to do against a lineup like that."
The Dodgers entered the game boasting the best record in the National League and one of the most potent lineups in the majors. Yet Matz handled them with ease.
"I'm happy with it," Matz said. "Wilson [Ramos] caught a great game ... We were working fast, getting ahead of guys, it was good."
Matz has now gone six starts in which he has allowed three runs or fewer since he was lit up for eight runs, six earned, in the first inning of a game against the Phillies in April.
He has 2.86 ERA and is holding hitters to a .288 batting average since that start.
"He set himself up last year for a breakout year and he's been pretty darn consistent," Callaway said. "He had that one rough game but he's been our most consistent starter."
