Daisuke Matsuzaka isn’t necessarily next in line for a shot at closing games if Kyle Farnsworth bombs, but the Mets may consider the veteran right-hander for the role if there is a need.
Manager Terry Collins on Wednesday cited Matsuzaka’s improved control from when the Mets first signed him last season as a reason Matsuzaka could handle the job.
But the Mets also value Matsuzaka — who arrived last week from Triple-A Las Vegas to work from the bullpen — as a sixth starter should a need arise in the rotation.
“We’ve wrestled with trying to keep him ready to start a game and yet use him as his versatility dictates in shorter roles,” Collins said before the Mets’ 3-2 victory over the Cardinals at Citi Field.
Matsuzaka entered in the seventh inning and struck out Mark Ellis before Carlos Torres and Scott Rice combined for a scoreless eighth. Kyle Farnsworth got the save after allowing a run in the ninth.
Collins said he turned to Torres instead of keeping Matsuzaka on the mound beyond the seventh because he now considers Torres as the team’s primary eighth-inning option.
“When you’ve got a two-run lead, you go to your guy, and that’s what we did,” Collins said. “Now [Thursday] we’ve got both of them.”
Michael Wacha became the fourth pitcher in major league history to strike out 10 or more batters in four innings or less, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Indians’ Danny Salazar had 10 strikeouts in 3 ²/₃ innings against the White Sox earlier this month.
Despite the fact Vic Black hadn’t allowed a run in six appearances at Triple-A Las Vegas entering Wednesday, Collins indicated the right-hander isn’t close to returning to the big leagues. Collins cited the fact Black had seven walks over 7 ¹/₃ innings. The right-hander was demoted to the minors in spring training because of control problems.
Bobby Abreu is expected to make his first start for the Mets on Thursday. … Major League Baseball made a scoring change from Saturday’s game and subtracted a hit from Daniel Murphy’s total. Murphy was awarded a single on an eighth-inning grounder that Dan Uggla mishandled. The play was changed to an error.