Clock is ticking on the Red Sox to make a decision on Bryan Mata
The clock is ticking on the Red Sox to make a decision on right-handed pitcher Bryan Mata.
His current rehab assignment will end on July 15, forcing the Red Sox to either add him to the 26-man roster, trade him, or expose him to waivers in an attempt to assign him to the WooSox.
Mata has made three appearances for the WooSox, posting a 2.57 ERA, including pitching two scoreless frames on Saturday in Worcester’s 4-0 win over the Syracuse Mets at Polar Park.
The 25-year-old came into the game in the eighth inning, in relief of Cooper Criswell and Alex Speas, and walked the first batter he faced. He would quickly get a double-play on a 96-mph heater. Three pitches later, former WooSox infielder Yolmer Sanchez popped out to short on a fastball.
In the ninth inning, he gave up a leadoff single and committed a balk, but he also induced two groundouts and picked up a strikeout. His final line was two scoreless innings, one hit, one walk, and one strikeout, throwing 30 pitches with 17 going for strikes. He also had two swings and misses in his outing.
How the Red Sox will utilize Mata if he’s added to the roster is unknown. He has the ability to start and can offer them innings as a multi-inning reliever.
“He’s got great stuff, obviously; I think he has the stuff to do either one,” Chad Tracy said to reporters. “He’s obviously been a starter for most of his time as a Red Sox and came up as a starter. But he obviously has the arsenal and the weaponry, and he throws hard enough, and if he’s in the zone, to be a reliever. I think the best answer is I think he’s equipped to do either one, and it’s just going to be a matter of wherever the opening is.”
