NEW YORK — Nobody needs to tell New York Mets manager Terry Collins, whose professional baseball career began in the early 1970s, that the complete game is largely a thing of the past. But he really didn’t need a reminder this week as the Mets fully embarked upon a stretch of 17 games in as many days.
Left-hander Steven Matz became the second Mets pitcher in three days to throw shutout ball against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, when Matz allowed two hits and no walks while striking out eight over 7 2/3 innings in a 8-0 win at Citi Field.
But just like Monday — when 42-year-old right-hander Bartolo Colon threw eight shutout innings in a 4-0 win — there was no consideration by Collins of letting his starter finish the shutout, not with Matz, Colon and the rest of the starters all preparing to throw on four days rest during an 11-game road trip that begins Thursday in San Diego.
With that in mind, Collins would rather trade the prestige of a shutout in hopes of retaining his starters’ effectiveness over the next trip through the rotation.
“We’ve got to keep an eye on these guys — they’re coming back (for) the first time all season on four days’ rest, therefore, we’ve got to make sure they’re OK,” Collins said. “Hey look, I get shutouts. I know how important they are to guys. But wins are the most important thing, and to be able to go out there in four days and pitch as well as you did this previous time.
