JUNE 24: Matz has cleared protocols and rejoined the team, Sportsnet.ca’s Arden Zwelling tweets. Matz threw a 60-pitch live BP session today, and he is slated to return to the rotation during the Jays’ series with the Mariners next week (June 29-July 1).
JUNE 15: The Blue Jays announced yesterday that left-hander Steven Matz has tested positive for COVID-19 (via Shi Davidi of Sportsnet). Fortunately, he is asymptomatic, although he’ll still need to isolate for ten days from the date of the test. The team conducted follow-up testing in the wake of Matz’s result but no other players have turned up positive.
Matz was placed on the COVID-19 IL over the weekend when his first test showed an inconclusive result. Acquired from the Mets over the winter, the 30-year-old has gotten off to a decent start with his new team. Matz has tossed 69 2/3 innings of 4.26 ERA/3.77 SIERA ball, a bounce back effort after a disastrous 2020 campaign. It’s not clear who will replace Matz in the rotation while he’s out, although each of Nate Pearson, T.J. Zeuch and Anthony Kay have been starting games at Triple-A Buffalo.
In other Jays news, Scott Mitchell of TSN reports that reliever Julian Merryweather won’t be reinstated from the injured list until late June at the earliest. The fireballing 29-year-old went on the IL with a left oblique strain April 14, so he’s eligible for activation whenever he returns to health. Merryweather was off to a fantastic start to the season, striking out seven of the fourteen batters he faced while holding opponents hitless through 4 1/3 innings.
should have worn his mask in the shower like the rest of us did….smh
Wait… huh?
Don’t mind the troll
It was funny shut up. I went out yesterday in 97 degree weather to play basketball. Had to put my mask on right afterwards to go get a drink.
Thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.
He won’t need your prayers pal. He’ll be fine.
Why aren’t these guys vaccinated?
The fact that he has it but is asymptomatic suggests that maybe he did get vaccinated – the shots don’t necessarily prevent infection but DO prevent severe illness and death.
They shouldn’t test anyone who has been vaccinated. At that point, you have done your part and shouldn’t be subjected to nose swabs.
Seems useless to test people everyday unless someone actually has symptoms. To my knowledge, we have never worried so much about asymptomatic people for any other virus/sickness.
Cambio- You do realize you can still transmit the virus if asymptomatic right? That is the big worry especially prior to the Vaccines. We can all see someone coughing and sneezing and avoid them . Those without symptoms were the biggest risk to the general population at large.
Yes I do realize that; just like every other virus. As I mentioned in my comment below, we also know that the majority of cases are either asymptomatic or minor such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, etc. Given that, it doesn’t make a ton of sense to constantly test asymptomatic people. We know the end results and the most important statistics.
@tedtheodorelogan: ‘They shouldn’t test anyone who has been vaccinated.’
I can’t tell if you’re serious here, but even vaccinated people can carry and spread the virus. Therefore, they should continue to be tested.
I’ve personally been vaccinated but I still gladly get tested once a week at work. It’s a personal choice to get vaccinated and it’s not my business what anyone’s choice is. People have their own reasons for deciding not to get vaccinated. I would hate to spread the virus to a non-vaccinated person just because I didn’t want to get tested.
And without testing you have no way to get out ahead of a potential “cluster” that might migrate to high risk groups so yes testing does make sense. Most identified “super spreaders” world wide were traced back to an asymptomatic person.
Just stop and think , use some logic for a second. No testing and you have no idea who in a cohort might be positive and asymptomatic. You have an undiagnosed illness that puts you in a high risk category and you contract the virus with serious consequences because you had no idea the person was positive. None of the vaccines provide 100% protection from serious implications or death.
If you think a nasal swab is a big deal , I sincerely hope you never have a serious medical condition.
That is true, but just because someone is asymptomatic doesn’t mean they can’t spread it to someone who gets severely ill or dies. It’s such a dumb argument to say that since the majority of people who get it will be asymptomatic, we shouldn’t do a quick simple test to be definitive about everyone. It is far from useless to test someone who doesn’t have symptoms, and I really don’t understand how you don’t see that. Just continue testing everyone and the number of severe cases will continue to go down. If you only test the people who feel bad, there will be more and more asymptomatic people transferring it, and therefore more people who will get the severe symptoms
The fact that he’s asymptomatic does not suggest he’s vaccinated. Before the vaccines existed we knew via CDC data that young individuals experienced decreased symptoms and in most cases were asymptomatic. Most young individuals testing positive didn’t even know they had the potential to be carrying the virus. Most people getting tested were asymptomatic.
Thanks Doc.
He also could’ve contracted it shortly after the vaccination, since it takes two weeks to fully kick in.
He is vaccinated
California is fully opening today and lifting mask mandates. I expect Covid spikes unfortunately
Covid spikes didn’t happen in Texas or Arizona and they have been opened for a few months now without mask mandates. Texas specifically allowed the early use of Ivermectin. Their cases and deaths have drastically dropped.
Texas and Arizona have done very little recent testing. Let’s chat again in a month as the Delta variant sets in.
There aren’t very many people getting serious symptoms. They likely aren’t testing asymptomatic individuals either…
Supposedly, 60% of the state has received at least the first vaccine dose, so maybe it won’t be that bad.
If you’re scared, stay home. I will continue to live my life the way I always have.
Artie, you’re so brave! Idiot.
Is that how you always sign your comments — Idiot? Because you really don’t have to. It’s obvious.
I won’t argue with you. You’re obviously another covidiot
I bet Arthur Morgan in Red Dead would have appreciated if the guy that gave him tuberculosis would have been more cautious for the sake of others.
Arthur will continue to live his life as an uneducated moron. Shine on you crazy diamond!
If we base our expectations off of other states that reopened long ago, your fears are completely unfounded. Are you trying to undermine vaccine confidence by saying it isn’t effective?
You expect that over a year later, spikes will occur? Do research — plenty of facts out there. In fact, read the one conducted by Stanford Medical.
Are we sure they didn’t get Dolis or Montoyo’s test results mixed up with Matz’s? Can we do that next time please!
You keep deleting my comments. The more you do that the less time I spend on your site.
Baseball is failing. You want to fail too you can……
NOOOO DON’T LEAVE WE NEEED YOOOOOUOUOUOU!!!!!
Probably cuz you keep saying stupid crap
Haha, why are you being so whiny?
MLB is doing the right thing here. Asymptomatic people are the reason why Covid spread as widely as it did. The virus affects people differently so an asymptomatic carrier could, in theory, infect 100’s of people who end up getting very sick, hospitalized or even dying from the disease. It’s really the luck of the draw with your body’s immune system.
The original Covid virus seems to be under control (at least in the US) but the variants of the disease are still very concerning. I’d expect new vaccinations to be developed soon to combat these Covid variants. This Fall will tell us a lot on how well we’ve done containing this pandemic. Wouldn’t be surprised to see mask mandates resurface in some hard hit areas this Fall unfortunately. This is a nasty virus, so we need to stay out in front of it the best we can.
Intelligently spoken Dorothy. Such a breath of fresh air here!
Should be the spokesperson for Kool-Aid, drinking so much of it.
Being intelligent and following and understanding the science does not make one a drinker of Kool-Aid. You don’t even understand the hackneyed expression you used Butchie.
So he tested positive. Everyone knows tests can produce false negatives as well as false positives. If he tests negative tomorrow, does he still have to do the full 10 days?
Haven’t all the players, as US citizens, had access to vaccines as per their home address state? If not, why not? Haven’t all foreign resident players had ample opportunities to receive vaccines? That one I’m not sure about, truthfully.
Again, not saying Matz hasn’t been vaccinated, but when does this end? When do we stop protecting those who CHOOSE to not receive vaccines? I find it difficult to believe that on June 15, 2021, people who want the vaccine haven’t been able to receive one. How hard is it to load team personnel on to a bus and swing through a vaccination site? Imagine the goodwill and positive images that would be created for the game? Who is baseball protecting from Matz, or any other player? People who have chosen to not get the vaccine?
How difficult is it for you to understand a thing or two on personal choices/preferences/responsibilities? His life is his, yours is yours. Do you have a drivers license and log miles daily? If so, you should understand the associated risks with simply being alive.
Right, and we put on seatbelts when we drive. So get vaccinated you moron.
People like you are the problem. Some one doesn’t agree with you and they’re a “moron” or and “idiot”. Why don’t you worry about you, since you can only control you and quit hating everyone with a different opinion. Yikes so ridiculous. It is blatantly obvious that something isnt quite right with everything going on. I don’t know why or for what reason, nor will I speculate. If you want to get vaccinated, that’s your liberty. But quit trying to cram your view down everybody’s throat and then when they don’t agree, they must be the moron. You are clearly a beacon of intelligence and knowledge, just judging by your comments so we should all follow you.
Really? Yall don’t know anything! I will tell you the truth. I’m a doctor from YouTube.
The amount of medical experts has quadrupled in the last year. Some y’all probably work at Wendy’s and then seriously try and spout off your ridiculous opinion on “science” to whoever will listen. Probably why you have to pull forward and wait at the drive-thrus now. Just put the lid on my Frosty and keep it movin’!
Don’t need a medical degree to assess basic information (obtained from those with PHDs) and then come to a conclusion. Appeal to authority is a logical fallacy, look it up.