New York Mets' Steven Matz could return soon

Left-hander Steven Matz may be able to provide a shot in the arm to the Mets' injury-ravaged pitching staff, New York manager Terry Collins announced on Sunday.

Matz could return to the team this week "with an opportunity to pitch," Collins said prior to the Mets' interleague game against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field.

Matz, who owns a 9-8 mark with a 3.40 ERA this season, would be under restrictions as he works his way back from a month-long absence due to shoulder impingement. The 25-year-old Matz tossed a 30-pitch bullpen session on Saturday at the team complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

"We have no plans yet. Nothing's written. Steven Matz's name certainly will be in the mix," Collins told ESPN. "But Steven, when he gets here, is going to be a guy with a limit in workload that he has. So to get him built up and get him where we want, I am not sure we have the starts available."

The news certainly is welcome for New York, which saw right-hander Jacob deGrom scratched from Sunday's start and is in need of elbow surgery to repair scar tissue in the ulnar nerve in his right elbow.