PORT ST. LUCIE — Get ready for Dice-Stay.
In case Daisuke Matsuzaka didn’t already have a spot in the Mets rotation secured, Monday’s performance against the Cardinals probably eliminated any lingering doubt.
The veteran right-hander pitched six-plus innings in which he allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts and three walks in the Mets’ 5-3 exhibition victory at Tradition Field.
Matsuzaka has been the front-runner for the fifth spot in the Mets’ rotation for most of the spring, but manager Terry Collins recently indicated Jenrry Mejia was still in the mix.
“I think I’ve done pretty much everything I can and shown what I can do,” said Matsuzaka, who owns a 3.86 ERA in five appearances this spring. “The decision is up to them now and we’ll see what happens.”
The Mets have to notify Matsuzaka on Tuesday whether they intend to carry him on the 25-man roster. Otherwise, the club must pay him $100,000 as a retention bonus for going to the minor leagues, or release him.
Matsuzaka is already scheduled to pitch the Mets’ exhibition finale on Saturday against the Blue Jays in Montreal. Mejia is the scheduled starter on Friday in Montreal. Even if Mejia doesn’t beat out Matsuzaka, he could also be a possibility to start in Jon Niese’s place if the lefty is not ready to pitch his first game on April 6.
Matsuzaka’s track record — he won 33 games combined for the Red Sox in 2007-08 — appeals to Collins.
“It certainly gives him an edge because he’s done it before, and he’s done it a lot,” Collins said. “But with the way Jenrry threw [Monday], he’s got to be in that mix. We’ll get in the room and start talking about what our best options are.”
Mejia dazzled against the Nationals on Monday, when he allowed one run on two hits over five innings. The 24-year-old righty has a 2.89 ERA in three appearances this spring, but Collins has indicated the Mets will have to monitor Mejia’s innings total this year.
Mejia has never pitched more than 108 ²/₃ innings in a season and Collins is unsure what the cap would be. At Triple-A Las Vegas, the Mets could be more flexible with Mejia, allowing him to make abbreviated appearances and skip starts if needed to keep his innings in check.