Steven Matz Has Tested Positive for COVID-19
Steven Matz has indeed tested positive for COVID-19, the Toronto Blue Jays have announced.
The 30-year-old left-hander was placed on the COVID-related Injured List on Sunday following an inconclusive test, the team announced. Further testing has confirmed that he has indeed contracted the virus. He is asymptomatic, the team says.
He will miss at least 10 days before he's eligible to return late next week.
Matz's most recent outing came on Saturday afternoon against the Boston Red Sox. He pitched 5.2 innings allowing just one run while recording eight strikeouts.
The Blue Jays had reached 85% vaccine uptake within the team as of earlier this month, manager Charlie Montoyo said. The team has conducted further testing and all tests have come back negative.
Matz has pitched to a 4.26 ERA in 13 starts this season. While it hasn't been a smooth start to the season by any means, it's been a significant improvement from last year when Matz posted a 9.68 ERA with the New York Mets.
The team recalled right-hander Jeremy Beasley from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday to replace Matz.
Montoyo said he did not have a plan for Matz's next start year, but promoting from Triple-A or running with a bullpen game are both in play.
Further Reading:
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