Steven Matz named NL Rookie of the Month for May
Steven Matz pitches in first inning against the White Sox at Citi Field on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. Matz left with the lead, but the bullpen couldn't hold it. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Steven Matz is the low-key one. In a clubhouse full of bona fide personalities, he tends to speak softly, never really trying to draw attention to himself.
His accomplishments on the mound, on the other hand, are loud, flashy and making themselves known all around the league.
Major League Baseball announced Thursday that Matz, who turned 25 on Sunday, earned NL Rookie of the Month honors for May, making him only the third Met to earn the title since it was established in 2001. Justin Turner won the award in 2011 and Jacob deGrom in 2014.
The lefthander from Stony Brook won seven consecutive starts from April 17 to May 25 and has won 11 of his first 15 major-league starts, a feat matched only by the Dodgers’ Kaz Ishii (2002) since 1900, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
In his five May starts, Matz was 4-0 with a 1.83 ERA and 31 strikeouts. He’s 7-1 with a 2.60 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 55 1⁄3 innings.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
