Matz developed a blister on his left hand in his Cardinals debut during Sunday's 9-4 loss to the Pirates, an issue manager Oliver Marmol attributed to the southpaw's poor outing, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

While Matz struck out five batters while walking just one, he also allowed seven runs on nine hits in his three innings, giving him a loss in his first outing of the season. Five of those runs came in the third inning -- the frame in which the blister reportedly developed -- with two more scoring in the fourth before he was able to record an out. The rough season debut followed a shaky spring in which he stumbled to a 5.23 ERA in three starts, but the Cardinals are seemingly considering all of his struggles Sunday to be blister-related and aren't worried about him long-term. He's expected to take his next turn in the rotation, which lines up to come Friday in Milwaukee.

Matz is set to start the Cardinals' third game of the season April 10 versus the Pirates, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz hasn't had a great spring, allowing six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts across 3.2 innings. He'll likely get one more tuneup in Grapefruit League action before the team breaks camp. Matz was never in any real doubt for a rotation spot, but he has some work to do to get back into the form that allowed him to post a 14-7 record, 3.82 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 144:43 K:BB in 150.2 innings last season with Toronto.

Matz agreed to a four-year, $44 million contract with the Cardinals on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Blue Jays declined to extend Matz the $18.4 million qualifying offer, and it didn't take long for him to find a new team on the open market. The 30-year-old lefty had a bounceback 2021 campaign with a 3.82 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 144:43 K:BB across 150.2 innings (29 starts), and he'll bring some stability to St. Louis' rotation behind Jack Flaherty and Adam Wainwright.

The Blue Jays did not give Matz an $18.4 million qualifying offer, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz recently turned down a multi-year contract offer, the value of which is unknown. The lefty excelled in 2021 with a 3.82 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 144 strikeouts in 150.2 innings, but for a back-end starter in Toronto's rotation, $18.4 million would have been a steep price. Matz, entering his age 31 season, figures to draw plenty of interest on the open market.

Matz didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Twins after allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks across three innings, fanning six.

EDGE Analysis

Matz has now fanned at least five in five straight starts, though he only lasted three innings and departed the contest after hurling 80 pitches (57 for strikes). Matz has gone undefeated in each of his last eight starts and has given up more than two earned runs just once in that span, which translates to a 2.95 ERA across 42.2 innings in that stretch.

Matz (13-7) allowed two runs on three hits and two walks with five strikeouts through 5.2 innings, picking up the win in Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

Matz gave up a two-run homer to Josh Donaldson in the first inning but settled in to blank the Twins for the remainder of his outing. He did leave the game with runners on the corners, but Trevor Richards closed the book on the southpaw with no further damage. The 30-year-old Matz pushed his streak of going at least five innings to seven straight starts and has struck out at least five batters in four consecutive appearances. For a player who finished 2020 with a 9.68 ERA, Matz's 2021 has been nothing short of resurgent. He'll look to keep the good vibes going in his next start, which is tentatively set for Thursday against these same Twins in Minneapolis.

Matz (12-7) earned the win over Baltimore on Sunday despite allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with six strikeouts in six innings.

EDGE Analysis

When Matz left the contest, Toronto held a 22-5 lead, although reliever Trent Thornton allowed a couple of runs in the seventh. Needless to say, Matz got away with less than his best in the lopsided game. He allowed more than two earned runs for the first time since July 28. The southpaw has a 3.87 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 128:38 K:BB in 135 innings overall. He projects for a home start versus Minnesota next weekend.

Matz (11-7) picked up the win in Tuesday's 5-1 victory over the Yankees, allowing one run on seven hits over six innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

The southpaw fired 65 of 93 pitches for strikes en route to his third quality start in his last four outings and his eighth of the season. Matz has been stingy since the All-Star break, posting a 2.22 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 40:15 K:BB through 52.2 innings over his last 10 starts.

Matz allowed two runs on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts over five innings in a no-decision versus Baltimore on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old matched his season high with four walks, two of which led to the only runs scored against him in a troublesome second inning. Matz hadn't allowed multiple runs in his last three starts, but Wednesday wasn't a total disaster for him despite taking a third straight no-decision due to Joakim Soria surrendering a game-tying run in the seventh inning. Matz has a 3.80 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 116:36 K:BB across 123 innings this season. He projects for a road start versus the Yankees next week.

Matz didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Tigers, allowing one run on four hits over six innings. He struck out two without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

The southpaw fired 85 pitches (57 strikes) during a pitchers' duel with rookie Matt Manning, and Matz was forced to settle for his second straight quality start and third in August. He'll carry a 3.81 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 111:32 K:BB through 118 innings into his next outing.