WASHINGTON -- The starting rotation of the New York Mets was a strength going into the 2016 season.Now it is officially a concern following updates Tuesday on left-hander Steven Matz and right-hander Noah Syndergaard, who lasted just three innings on Monday in Washington against the Nationals.We have a less than perfect situation right now, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson admitted Tuesday, after announcing that Matz would not make his start as scheduled on Wednesday against the Nationals.Logan Verrett (3-4, 4.14) will make the start Wednesday against Max Scherzer (8-5, 3.52) of the Nationals. Verrett has made 20 appearances this year, with four starts, while Scherzer threw a no-hitter at New York last October.Steven has a spur in the back of his elbow, Alderson said. It is causing discomfort. There is no structural damage in his elbow. Continuing to pitch will not cause any structural damage. What we have decided to do for the moment is skip his start tomorrow and pitch him on Thursday. We will continue to monitor his situation. We will monitor the level of discomfort. We will monitor it on a start-by-star basis.Alderson said at some point the Mets may consider going to a six-man rotation to help save wear and tear on Matz and the rest of the staff. But manager Terry Collins said Tuesday that is not going to happen in the immediate future.Matz last pitched on Friday against the Atlanta Braves and last 4 1/3 innings and gave up six earned runs on nine hits. He did not figure in the decision as the Mets won 8-6.Is he confident he can pitch through his elbow issues?Ive been doing it up until this point, he told reporters Tuesday. Its something that, as long as they feel comfortable with me being out there with the way Im pitching, then I think Im going to battle through it. Thats the mindset- get it all behind me and just go out there and pitch.Is it difficult to deal with mentally?Theres not much difficulty there just because the doctor is really confident that nothing structurally is wrong. So its just a matter of going out there and pitching now, Matz added.Alderson said if Matz had surgery he would be out about three months, which would put a return in October. Matz said he will deal with the spur coming out when the time comes.The Long Island native said he has talked to veteran pitcher Bartolo Colon, whom Matz has talked to regarding his condition.Yeah, I was talking to Bartolo. Hes had stuff like this taken out and hes pitched through it. I know some other guys Ive talked to that have dealt with the same thing, Matz said. I think thats one thing I talked about with Terry that were going to just treat this like Im cleared to go. Were going to put this behind me, were going to keep it in mind, but were going to try to keep the rotation in order. Thats ultimately up to them, but thats my mindset too... If Im good, then Im good.Alderson said Syndergaard has a very small spur in the back of his elbow. There is no structural damage, said Alderson, who added the right-hander will take anti-inflammatory medicine.The Nationals have right-hander Stephen Strasburg on the disabled list, but have ace Scherzer ready to pitch the series finale Wednesday against the Mets. Washington will seek a sweep after winning on Monday and Tuesday. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Mohamed-Sanu-Jersey/ . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Hats/ .25 million option on reliever Jose Veras. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/T-Shirts/ . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Devonta-Freeman-Jersey/ .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Ty-Sambrailo-Jersey/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. BOSTON -- David Ortiz is down to his final regular-season game, and it will be an important one for the Boston Red Sox.With their 40-year-old slugger heading into retirement, the Red Sox could use a victory on Sunday to help their chances of earning home-field advantage in their AL Division Series against Cleveland.Obviously, we would like the home-field advantage, Boston utilityman Brock Holt said after a 4-3 loss to Toronto. Well come ready to go. ... Hopefully well play that first game here.The Indians (93-67) would open at home if they win their last two games, or even one if Boston (93-68) loses its finale against Toronto on Sunday.One night after the Blue Jays blew a 3-1 lead and gave up Ortizs game-winning homer, Torontos J.A. Happ seemed poised to pick up his 21st win.But with the Blue Jays leading 3-2 in the eighth, Mookie Betts doubled, took third on Brock Holts hard-hit double-play ball and then scored to tie it when closer Roberto Osuna balked in the winning run.In the ninth, though, Ezequiel Carrera delivered a sacrifice fly and Toronto won to move into a tie with Baltimore for the top spot in the AL wild-card race.We had the lead and the tying run scores on balk. I was worried about the baseball gods, said manager John Gibbons, whose team is tied with the Orioles at 88 wins with one to play. We want to enjoy this one. Theyre hard to come by.Toronto owns the tie-breaker with Baltimore. Detroit is also still in the wild-card hunt.Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel (2-6) has losses in two of his last three appearances, issuing six walks while completing two innings. Since Sept. 22, his ERA has risen from 2.52 to 3.40.The 21-year-old Osuna (4-3) retired the Red Sox in order in the ninth to recover from his sixth blown save of the season.PREGAME FESTIVITIESHockey great Bobby Orr, NFL Hall of Famer Andre Tippett and the entire current Boston Celtics roster joined David Ortiz on the field at Fenway Park on Saturday night to help celebrate Big Papi on his way into retirement.The ceremony before the Red Sox played Toronto also featured former patients at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, who Ortiz helped through his work for the Jimmy Funnd.ddddddddddddAnd Boston Marathon bombing victims also joined the sports stars on the field to thank Ortiz for his defiant and inspirational speech following the 2013 finish line attacks.The basketball players all wore Celtics jerseys with Ortizs No. 34. Many of them asked the Red Sox designated hitter to sign their shirts, and several posed for selfies with him.Ortiz has said he will retire at the end of the season, and the Red Sox planned celebrations for the final weekend series at Fenway. Friday nights ceremony included beneficiaries of the David Ortiz Childrens Fund; Sunday is expected to feature Ortizs former teammates.AT THE PLATEAs they have much of the season, the Fenway fans rose to a standing ovation when Ortiz came to the plate in the first. With a runner on first, he worked the count full against Happ and drew a walk.It was the 1,319th walk of Ortizs career, tying him with Tony Phillips for 40th on baseballs career list.Ortiz was tagged out going from first to second when Betts followed with a grounder.Ortiz grounded out in the second inning with two on and two out, hitting a grounder that got under the glove of shifted shortstop Troy Tulowitzki but was grabbed in shallow right by Devon Travis.In the fifth, Ortiz singled on a line drive to right and was replaced by a pinch hitter. He tipped his helmet to the cheering crowd as he left the diamond.We know what hes dealing with, manager John Farrell said of Ortizs difficulty running. Under the conditions tonight and the way he got down the line in that second at-bat, it felt like three was enough.UP NEXTBlue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (14-2, 3.06 ERA) goes in the regular season finale Sunday. Hes allowed one run over six innings in each of his last two starts after extended rest for a blister.Red Sox: Former Blue Jays left-hander David Price (17-9, 4.04) will start for Boston on Sunday. He took the loss in his previous start Tuesday against the Yankees, giving up six runs and 12 hits in 6 1/3 innings, halting his career-best, eight-game winning streak. Discount Jerseys NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL T-shirts Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Black China NFL Jerseys Disocunt Football Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Throwback Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Black China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store Stitched Jerseys ' ' '