Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Tuesday that Matz will be given a chance to open the season in the rotation, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Neander said that Matz -- whose two-year, $15 million contract became official Tuesday -- has "a real desire" to be a starting pitcher again, and the "the investment was made with that in mind." All but two of Matz's 53 regular-season appearances in 2025 came out of the bullpen, but the 34-year-old has predominantly been a starter in his career. He posted a 3.05 ERA and 59:11 K:BB over 76.2 regular-season frames between the Cardinals and Red Sox this past season.

Matz agreed to a two-year contract with the Rays on Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz will suit up for the sixth different team in his veteran career after coming to terms on what's believed to be a multi-year contract with Tampa Bay. The southpaw was used in a variety of scenarios during the 2025 campaign with Boston and St. Louis, which included him securing the first two saves of his big-league career in five chances. Matz will presumably be in store for high-leverage opportunities in 2026 with the Rays.

Matz worked around a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

With Aroldis Chapman having pitched twice in Boston's last three games, it was Matz who was called upon to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning. The southpaw would surrender a leadoff double to Dylan Carlson, though he'd be erased on a fielder's choice as Matz cruised to his second career big-league save. The 34-year-old Matz has been impressive out of the bullpen since joining the Red Sox at the trade deadline, allowing just one run on six hits through his first 11.1 innings.

The Cardinals traded Matz to the Red Sox on Wednesday in exchange for Blaze Jordan, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After sending Ryan Helsley to the Mets earlier Wednesday, the Cardinals will continue unloading pieces from their bullpen by sending Matz to the Red Sox. Matz, 34, has been effective in middle relief this season to the tune of a 3.44 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 55 innings. He's likely to stay in the bullpen with his new organization, though the Sox may try to work him into the rotation now that Tanner Houck (elbow) is without a clear return timeline.

The Cardinals are likely to use a spot starter at times in June but appear to be leaning toward keeping Matz in a traditional bullpen role, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz operated in a hybrid role in April but was used exclusively in relief in May. While the Cardinals are likely to incorporate a spot starter during a stretch of 28 games in 29 days this month, Matz appears set to remain in the bullpen since he's no longer stretched out sufficiently to start. Instead, Michael McGreevy is the top candidate to draw a spot start or two with the big club.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Friday that he plans for Matz to pitch out of the bullpen "at the moment," Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Cardinals went to a six-man rotation during a stretch of the schedule that was light on off days. However, they are idle for every Thursday in May, allowing them to shift back to a five-man setup for the time being. It sounds like Matz could re-enter the rotation at any point, though, with Marmol saying of Matz's usage that the club can "pick and choose based on how things are going." Matz has pitched well in both roles this season, posting a 1.00 ERA and 11:0 K:BB over nine innings in two starts and a 1.80 ERA and 9:3 K:BB over 15 frames covering seven relief outings.

Matz didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Reds, allowing five hits over four scoreless innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

The southpaw may not have been available for a full workload after working in relief Saturday, but Matz gave the Cards 73 pitches (55 strikes) in an impressive outing, including 26 called or swinging strikes. He's been brilliant in a swingman role to begin the season, posting a 1.50 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 20:3 K:BB through 24 innings. If St. Louis sticks with a six-man rotation into May, Matz would line up to make his next start at home early next week against the Pirates.

Matz will be the Cardinals' starting pitcher for Wednesday's game in Cincinnati, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz will be pitching on three days' rest after he recorded two outs in a relief appearance Saturday versus the Brewers. It will be the second start this season for Matz, who is the sixth starter as part of a modified six-man rotation in St. Louis. The southpaw threw 71 pitches over five innings in his other start, which came on April 16. He should be able to cover a similar number pitch count-wise Wednesday.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Matz moving into the rotation on a more permanent basis "should be on the table," Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz has made one start and six relief appearances so far this season and excelled in both roles, posting a 1.86 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 19.1 innings. He will be available out of the bullpen for this weekend's series against the Brewers, but if he's not needed, he'll make a start next week in Cincinnati. Miles Mikolas' spot in the Cardinals' rotation would appear to be the most vulnerable, although he tossed six shutout frames his last time out. While Matz is pitching well enough to be considered for a regular place in the St. Louis rotation, it does not seem that move is imminent.

Matz isn't expected to make his second start of the season until next week's series in Cincinnati, when the Cardinals will shift back to a six-man rotation, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz had made his first five appearances of the season out of the bullpen before manager Oliver Marmol elected to expand the rotation to six men last week during a busy portion of the schedule. The southpaw was sharp in his first start April 16, claiming a win while limiting the Astros to one run on two hits and no walks over five innings. Despite Matz's strong outing, the Cardinals moved him back to the bullpen to begin the current week, with an off day Thursday allowing the team to temporarily condense the rotation to five men. Matz was called upon in relief in the Cardinals' 10-4 victory over Atlanta on Tuesday, when he recorded his second win of the season while tossing 2.2 scoreless innings. St. Louis will likely stay away from Matz for this weekend's series versus Milwaukee before reinserting him into the rotation early next week.