Matz tossed 2.1 innings out of the bullpen in Wednesday's 10-9 loss to the Marlins, surrendering two earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two batters.

EDGE Analysis

Heading into the week, Matz looked to be a candidate to start Wednesday, but the Cardinals instead had rookie Matthew Liberatore take the hill on three days' rest. Liberatore recorded just one out on 21 pitches and was shelled for four earned runs before the Cardinals called upon Dakota Hudson (2.2 innings) and Matz to work multiple frames out of the bullpen. With Adam Wainwright (shoulder) moving to the injured list earlier Wednesday, the Cardinals have an opening in the rotation again Sunday, but Matz could be passed over for the assignment in favor of Liberatore once again. Both Matz (32 pitches) and Hudson (52 pitches) handled heavier workloads than Liberatore on Wednesday and could be less fresh for Sunday.

Matz is no longer in line to start Wednesday against the Marlins, as the Cardinals have confirmed that Matthew Liberatore will draw the start in Miami, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Though prior reports suggested that Matz would get the starting nod Wednesday, the Cardinals will instead turn to Liberatore on three days' rest after the rookie covered 4.1 innings in the second game of this past Saturday's doubleheader with the Yankees. Manager Oliver Marmol hasn't revealed whether Matz will be available in relief Wednesday, but if the veteran southpaw goes unused, he'll likely be a candidate to fill the spot in the rotation vacated by Adam Wainwright (shoulder), who was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier in the day. Wainwright had been lined up to make his next start Sunday versus the White Sox.

Matz will start for the Cardinals on Wednesday in Miami, Isaac Azout of SBNation.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Cards needed a spot starter following a doubleheader over the weekend. Matz has posted a 1.98 ERA since being demoted to the bullpen a month ago, which includes 6.2 scoreless frames over his last two appearances. That was preceded by a 5.72 ERA in 10 starts, though, making him a poor streaming option especially since he won't be ready for a full workload.

Matz (0-7) allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and struck out two in one inning to take the extra-inning loss versus the Giants on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

This is Matz's first loss since moving to the bullpen. He's given up four runs (three earned) over seven innings with a 7:0 K:BB in that span, though he's also yielded two hits and hit two batters. The southpaw is still on the outside looking in for the Cardinals' starting plans, but Matthew Liberatore hasn't exactly run away with the No. 5 starter job with mixed results over his last three outings. Matz is at a 5.49 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 52:20 K:BB over 57.1 innings this season, and he'll likely remain in a bullpen role until the struggling Cardinals opt to mix up the rotation.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Friday that there is a plan in place to work Matz back into the starting rotation, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz is sitting as the odd man out after the Cards decided to implement a five-man rotation instead of six. Matthew Liberatore currently holds the No. 5 spot and is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Rangers, but it seems nothing is set in stone just yet.

Matz will be available out of the bullpen for the upcoming two-game series versus the Royals, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz remains winless at 0-6 with a 5.72 ERA through 10 starts this season. With a scheduling quirk leading to consecutive days off (Wednesday and Thursday), the Cardinals won't need a fifth or sixth starter for a while. It's possible Matz could rejoin the rotation during a road series in Texas from June 5-7. With Matthew Liberatore up in the majors, Matz may eventually be ticketed for the bullpen on a more permanent basis if he can't get his season on track.

Matz (0-6) took the loss Wednesday as the Cardinals were routed 10-3 by the Reds, coughing up six runs on 11 hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Nine of Cincy's 11 hits were singles, but it's still hard to chalk this one up entirely to bad BABIP luck on Matz's part. He has yet to complete six innings in any of his 10 starts this season and has issued multiple free passes in seven of them, and his 19.4 percent strikeout rate and 8.6 percent walk rate are his worst numbers in five years. The veteran southpaw will take a 5.72 ERA and 1.75 WHIP into his next outing, which is currently scheduled for early next week at home against the Royals. If Matthew Liberatore has another solid performance Friday, however, it wouldn't be surprising if the Cards used their upcoming two-day break May 31-June 1 to shuffle their rotation and drop Matz from the picture.

Matz (0-5) allowed an unearned run on six hits and two walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings to take the loss Friday versus the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Matz needed 103 pitches (66 strikes) to get 14 outs in an inefficient outing. He's yet to complete six innings in any of his nine starts this season, though this was the second time in his last three games that he's been able to limit the damage to one run. The Cardinals still aren't giving him much run support even when he has a good showing. Matz owns a 5.05 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 43:18 K:BB across 46.1 innings this season. With Matthew Liberatore up from Triple-A Memphis, it appears the Cardinals will work with a six-man rotation for a while. Matz should not be considered safe to remain a starter if or when the team returns to a five-man rotation. He's tentatively projected for a road start in Cincinnati next week.

Matz did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing three runs on eight hits and one walk over 5.1 innings against Boston. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Though Matz was tagged for eight hits, the most he's given up since April 10, he managed to keep the ball in the park, allowing no home runs for just the second time this season. The veteran southpaw has yet to earn a win in 2023 while holding a 5.63 ERA and a 2.3 K/BB. He may have to wait one more start to pick up the elusive victory, as Matz is tentatively scheduled for a matchup with the Dodgers, who are scoring 5.44 runs per game this season and boast the fourth-best record in MLB.

Matz did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Tigers, allowing one run on five hits and no walks. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Matz surrendered a solo home run to Spencer Torkelson in the fourth but otherwise kept the Tigers in check. He left after the fifth with a 3-1 lead, which was promptly blown by James Naile the following frame. Matz has been rocky so far this season, but Sunday was the first outing during which he did not walk a batter and gave up fewer than two runs. The 32-year-old now sits at a 5.70 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 33:15 K:BB over 36.1 innings. He lines up for a difficult matchup on the road against Boston next weekend.