The New York Mets have been without third baseman David Wright since April as well as starting pitcher Steven Matz since early July. The two could be back with the MLB club this month if they continue to progress as planned.
Wright participated in his first rehab game since going on the disabled list with a hamstring strain in mid-April. The veteran went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk as the designated hitter at Class-A Advanced St. Lucie and he's scheduled to play five innings at third base on Tuesday, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com.
After playing his first official game in almost four months, Wright could be back with New York in the next week or two.
Wright was diagnosed with spinal stenosis after a couple of weeks on the DL and the Mets have been careful with his recovery process ever since due to the severity of the injury. He didn't start conducting baseball activities until late July and now it looks like he'll return to the Mets at a very opportune time.
Check out Wright taking his first cuts since April:
Same goes for Steven Matz. The rookie left-hander hit the disabled list on July 10 after his first two MLB starts because of a partially torn lat muscle. The 24-year-old is "tentatively scheduled" to begin his first rehab assignment this Saturday at Class-A Advanced St. Lucie and he's hoping to return "on or around the first of September," general manager Sandy Alderson told Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
He's expected to throw 25 pitches in his first start and will gradually progress as the month goes on.
Matz was 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 14 strikeouts in two starts (13 2/3 innings) against the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers before hitting the DL. When he returns to the Mets' rotation he will join Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jon Niese and Bartolo Colon as the club competes for its first NL East title since 2006.
Wright and Matz will provide a crucial boost for the Mets, who sit atop the NL East right now with a 60-52 record.
