Mets’ Steven Matz to start season on DL

Mets’ starting pitcher Steven Matz will start the season on the disabled list in hopes of recovering from a left elbow injury, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.

Matz had an MRI on his elbow that came back negative for any structural damage, but doctors told him to not throw for three weeks. DiComo said Matz had “a platelet-rich plasma injection” put into his elbow, which he complained of soreness following a March 22 game against the Marlins.

Matz’s DL stint will be the third one for him in his career. He was placed on the DL in July 2015 after having a partial tear of his left later muscle and was on it in Aug. 2016 after having a bone spur in his left elbow, which he had surgery to remove it in October.

Matz went 9-8 with a 3.40 ERA in 22 starts last year in his rookie season for the Mets. This spring, he went 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in four starts spanning 12 2/3 innings.

Matz’s latest setback has prevented the Mets from having their desired rotation for the first time with Matz, Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler. Harvey, deGrom and Wheeler are coming off surgeries this year as well, as Harvey had Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery, deGrom had ulnar nerve surgery and Wheeler had Tommy John surgery.

Matz’s injury has allowed Robert Gsellman to slide into the rotation. It also makes the Mets have four players on the DL to start the year, along with third baseman David Wright and outfielders Brandon Nimmo and Juan Lagares.