Matz said after throwing three perfect innings against the Astros on Monday that "I feel the strongest I ever have in my career," Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz struck out four while needing just 39 pitches to navigate through his three perfect frames. He touched 95 mph with his sinker, which is more velocity than he typically shows at this point in camp. Matz is looking to bounce back from a disappointing first season in St. Louis which saw him limited to just 48 innings due to injuries.

Matz (5-3) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the win in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Matz made his return from a torn left MCL in this appearance. He was immediately rewarded as the Cardinals won in the 11th inning after generating the lone run of the game on an error. This was Matz's first relief outing since 2020 with the Mets and just his sixth appearance out of the bullpen in his career. He has a 5.56 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 52:9 K:BB through 43.2 innings this year, though it's expected he'll serve as a multi-inning reliever for the rest of the campaign.

Matz (knee) was activated off the injured list Saturday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz struggled to a 5.70 ERA in 10 starts for the Cardinals before tearing the MCL in his left knee, though his 27.4 percent strikeout rate and 4.8 percent walk rate were both strong marks. He's ready to help out in the final few weeks of the season, albeit in a bullpen role, as he didn't have time to build all the way up to a starter's workload.

Matz (knee) will continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It will be the fifth rehab appearance for Matz, who to this point has given up two runs on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks over 4.1 innings. The veteran southpaw will finish the season as a reliever for St. Louis and could be activated from the injured list as early as Tuesday.

Matz (knee) will make another rehab appearance with Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran left-hander will cover an inning for the Redbirds before being re-evaluated Wednesday. Matz has pitched 2.1 innings over his first two rehab outings, and he's expected to stretch out to cover multiple innings before being reinstated by St. Louis. He has a 5.70 ERA through 10 starts this year but will rejoin the Cardinals for the stretch run as a reliever.

Matz (knee) is scheduled to make his second rehab appearance Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

St. Louis is planning on bringing Matz (knee) back from the 15-day injured list later this month as a reliever, but he's still expected to get stretched out enough during his rehab assignment to handle multiple innings as needed out of the bullpen. Denton notes that Matz is expected to work into the third inning of Friday's outing after he struck out three while allowing no hits and three walks in 1.1 scoreless innings for Double-A Springfield on Tuesday. The appearance with Springfield was just his second in the majors or minors since the All-Star break.

Matz (knee) will start Tuesday for Double-A Springfield.

EDGE Analysis

He has been throwing bullpen sessions and is finally ready to begin his rehab assignment. It's been a rough first season for Matz in St. Louis, as injuries have limited him to 42.2 innings and he hasn't been consistently effective (5.70 ERA, 1.31 WHIP) when healthy. That said, he has a chance to return later this month and end the year on a high note.

Matz (knee) will throw a bullpen Sunday and then report to Double-A Springfield for a rehab assignment next week, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz continues to work his way back from an MCL strain in his left knee. He's still not expected back until late September, which suggests the southpaw may spend more than one week in the minors working his way back to full health. Matz will pitch out of the St. Louis bullpen once he's activated from the injured list.

Matz (knee) is scheduled to throw two more bullpen sessions during the upcoming week before potentially advancing to facing hitters, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz's fastball topped out at 89 miles per hour in his most recent side session Saturday, so his main focus this week will be increasing the intensity of his throwing and upping the velocity as he works his way back from an MCL sprain in his left knee. The southpaw still appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list before season's end, but if he does, he'll be deployed as a reliever.

Matz (knee) will likely focus on returning as a reliever, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Matz has been throwing low-intensity side sessions recently and is slated to throw a high-intensity bullpen Saturday. The Cardinals don't think that the southpaw will have enough time to stretch out prior to the end of the regular season, but he'll likely be able to return sometime in September if he doesn't experience any issues preparing for a bullpen role.