Levine: Cubs Must Get Past Steven Matz To Stave Off Golf Season
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Trying to stave off the golf and hunting season, the Cubs must get past rookie left-handed starter Steve Matz in Game 4 of the NLCS on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. Matz was 4-0 in the regular season after getting called up in late June.
Matz, 23, is 0-1 in the postseason, taking a loss in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Dodgers after going five innings and allowing runs on six hits. After being a third-round draft pick in 2009 and signing with the Mets out of high school, Matz had elbow surgery that delayed his professional debut until 2012.
The scouting report reads that Matz has good movement on both his four-seam and two-seam fastballs. His velocity is a consistent 93-95 mph, and his changeup can be a difference-maker. When he has the changeup working between 85-87 mph, his fastball becomes that much more effective.
Matz will work in Game 4 with a week off in between starts.
"I still feel set to go," Matz said Tuesday. "We've been on a six-man and a five-man (rotation before this year). We have had days off. I was able to get two bullpen sessions in. I feel ready."
Cubs manager Joe Maddon will hope his right-handed power bats are ready for Matz. Cubs veteran catcher David Ross is in the lineup, giving Maddon an extra bat from the right side as the lefty-swinging Montero sits.
This will mark Matz's first professional start against the Cubs. He had a 2.27 ERA in the regular season in six starts, averaging about one strikeout per inning and 1.3 walks per starts. If Matz can't go deep in the game, look for Bartolo Colon to get some middle-inning work.
"I don't have any history with them," Matz said. "They look like a tough lineup. They're a bunch of young,fiery guys. I am just going to go how our other three starters have approached their lineup. I will try to build off of their starts."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
