St. Louis placed Matz on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left lat strain.

EDGE Analysis

This injury comes with brutal timing for the 32-year-old southpaw, who has delivered a 1.86 ERA and 38:7 K:BB in 38.2 innings (seven starts) since returning to the Cardinals' rotation in early July following a month-long stint in the bullpen. Zack Thompson will take over the vacant rotation spot, possibly through the remainder of the 2023 campaign. Lat strains usually require several weeks of rest and rehab, and St. Louis is fully out of contention here in mid-August.

Matz (4-7) earned the win Saturday, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings in a 5-4 victory over Kansas City. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Matz earned his fourth consecutive quality start, a stretch in which he's 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA and a 19:3 K:BB over 24 innings. His lone blunder Saturday came in the third inning, where he allowed a two-run home run to Nelson Velazquez. Matz is tentatively scheduled to face the Mets in his next start, who strike out the fourth least in MLB but rank 21st in runs scored.

Matz (3-7) allowed a run on five hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings to earn the win Saturday over the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Matz gave up a run for the first time in three starts, but he turned in his third straight quality start. It's been a strong reversal of fortune for the southpaw, who has rebounded from an awful start to the season. He's now at a 3.91 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 93:32 K:BB over 99 innings through 24 appearances (16 starts). Matz will looking to keep it rolling next weekend in a road start versus the Royals.

Matz (2-7) tossed six shutout innings Sunday against the Cubs. He allowed just four hits and no walks while striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

Matz tossed his second straight start of shutout baseball and put a stamp on an excellent month of pitching. Over five starts in July, Matz posted a 1.69 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB in 26.2 innings. Matz has allowed just one run over his last 17 innings and a home start against the Rockies this coming week should set him up for another favorable outing.

Matz allowed five hits and a walk while striking out six over six scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Matz completed six frames for the first time this season, and this was one of his sharpest outings. He's allowed six runs (five earned) over 20.2 innings across four starts since rejoining the Cardinals' rotation. The strong stretch has him at a reasonable 4.34 ERA despite a 1.44 WHIP and 85:30 K:BB through 87 innings through 22 appearances (14 starts). Matz has likely solidified his place in the rotation, so he can be projected for a home start against the Cubs this weekend.

Matz (1-7) earned the win over the Cubs on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out six batters over five innings.

EDGE Analysis

Matz has bounced between the rotation and bullpen this season, but coming into Thursday he hadn't picked up a victory in either capacity. The left-hander finally found himself in the win column in his 21st appearance of the campaign, going just deep enough to qualify for the victory. Matz needed 97 pitches (59 strikes) to get through five frames, though he gave up just three hits and one walk and didn't hit any batters. The veteran hurler has pitched well in two of three starts since returning to the rotation, and he's likely to stick in that role as long as he continues to be effective.

Matz did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks over 4.1 innings against Washington. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

After tossing a gem in his return to the starting rotation last time out, Matz retired his first seven batters Saturday. However, the start went downhill fast, as Matz served up a pair of solo homers in the third to Alex Call and CJ Abrams. Through 12 starts (60 innings), Matz is 0-6 with a 5.40 ERA and a 58:23 K:BB but he's been much improved since moving to the pen. Considering his struggles as a starter, it's unclear if Matz will stick in the rotation, however, he may be forced into at least one more start with Adam Wainwright (shoulder) shelved.

Matz is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Nationals in St. Louis.

EDGE Analysis

Given the Cardinals' thin starting pitching depth along with the fact that Matz struck out nine while allowing an unearned run over 5.1 innings in his outing last Sunday against the White Sox, it's not surprisingly that he'll get another turn through the rotation. Despite his excellent showing his last time out, the southpaw is sitting on an 0-7 record, 4.65 ERA and 1.51 WHIP over 71.2 innings this season, so he's still tough to rely on as a streaming option even in what profiles as a strong matchup. To Matz's credit, he's been far more effective while working primarily as a reliever since the beginning of June, pitching to a 1.93 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 20:5 K:BB in 18.2 innings over the past six weeks.

Matz allowed an unearned run on two hits and struck out nine over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the White Sox on Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

Matz was taken out of the rotation in late May and showed well as a reliever with a 2.81 ERA and 1.13 WHIP over 16 innings across eight relief appearances. He carried over the success in a return to the rotation Sunday, where he was only charged with a run on an RBI single by Elvis Andrus in the third inning. Matz concludes a challenging first half with a 4.65 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 69:25 K:BB over 71.2 innings through 19 appearances (11 starts). With the rest of the Cardinals' rotation lacking consistency, Matz may have a good chance to remain a starter following the All-Star break.

Matz will start for the Cardinals on Sunday against the White Sox, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

That would have been Matthew Liberatore's turn, but he was optioned back to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday. Matz has pitched a little better since being moved to the bullpen in late May and could get an extended rotation opportunity with Adam Wainwright (shoulder) also out of the picture, but there's not much fantasy appeal here in general.