Is it time to worry about Mets’ hurler Steven Matz?

Steven Matz had another shaky outing on Tuesday against the Yankees, giving up five earned runs, seven hits and two walks in four innings. Matz currently carries an 8.31 ERA in four exhibition starts, but he is dismissive of those numbers.

“You try to work on stuff,” Matz told reporters after the game, “At the same time, you’re facing the New York Yankees. That stuff’s going to happen. I had one bad inning this time out but…I got some results the last few batters. That’s the stuff you’re going to deal with during the season.”

Matz referred to the second inning of his start on Tuesday, in which he gave up all five of the runs he was charged with. But in his defense, he retired eight straight batters to end his outing.

Terry Collins backed up the youngest of his projected starters by saying, “You can’t let it bother you. That’s part of being pitching in the big leagues. If you have a rough inning you got to be able to keep your team in it and he did that.”

Yoenis CespedesOK after scare

There was a scary moment involving Yoenis Cespedes on Tuesday, as he hit a foul ball off his left shin during the Mets/Yankees tilt and momentarily went to the ground. Cespedes proceeded to shake it off, stay in the game, and hit a line drive double.

“I went to go tell him he can go ice it but he said, ‘No, I want to keep playing,’” Collins remarked before adding, “He’s fine.”

Cespedes has been on a tear this spring, batting .417 in 11 games played. He’s tied for the club lead in hits with 13.