Steven Matz SP STL Mon 7/3/23 3:15 PM
Steven Matz
SP STL
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.
Steven Matz SP STL Thu 6/15/23 12:23 PM
Steven Matz
SP STL
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.
Steven Matz SP STL Fri 6/2/23 4:38 PM
Steven Matz
SP STL
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.
Steven Matz SP STL Sun 5/28/23 3:05 AM
Steven Matz
SP STL
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.
Steven Matz SP STL Thu 5/25/23 7:21 AM
Steven Matz
SP STL
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.
Steven Matz SP STL Sat 5/20/23 3:11 AM
Steven Matz
SP STL
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.
Steven Matz SP STL Sun 5/14/23 1:08 AM
Steven Matz
SP STL
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.
Steven Matz SP STL Mon 5/8/23 6:58 AM
Steven Matz
SP STL
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.
Steven Matz SP STL Fri 5/5/23 5:14 PM
Steven Matz
SP STL
Matz is listed as the Cardinals' probable starter Sunday against the Tigers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
EDGE Analysis
There has been some thought that Matthew Liberatore might get the call to take Matz's rotation spot, but Jones also notes that Liberatore is the listed starter at Triple-A Memphis on Saturday. Matz is seemingly going to get at least one more turn before perhaps sliding into a bullpen role. He is 0-4 with a 6.39 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 31:15 K:BB through 31 innings (six starts) this season with St. Louis.
Steven Matz SP STL Thu 5/4/23 11:46 AM
Steven Matz
SP STL
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was noncommittal Thursday when asked whether Matz will remain in the starting rotation, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
EDGE Analysis
The 31-year-old southpaw is currently lined up to start Sunday's series finale against the Tigers, but the Cardinals seem to be considering other options -- maybe even a promotion of Matthew Liberatore from Triple-A Memphis. Matz has gone 0-4 with a 6.39 ERA and 1.71 WHIP through 31 innings (six starts) in the second season of a four-year, $44 million deal.