Another Cardinals team's starting pitcher has been affected by injuries, as the left-handed Steven Matz is going to the injured list.
According to Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the left-handed player won't be back until mid-May due to a back injury he got while running in his last game. The report also mentioned that Matz got a shot and will have no physical activity until the medical staff of the team sets a timeline for his comeback.
The 32-year-old is one of several early-season injuries the Cardinals have endured in 2024. Those included their top pitcher Sonny Gray, who just returned from an injury he got during spring training.
Cardinals Search for a New Starter
While Matz is out, the Cardinals will work together until he can pitch again. As per Redbirds manager Oliver Marmol, the team will adjust the rotation to handle the situation.
Hard-throwing pitcher Lance Lynn is set to pitch on Saturday, while right-hander Kyle Gibson is expected to take Matz’s turn in the rotation on Sunday. Left-handed reliever Matthew Liberatore – a former starting pitcher – might take the ball on Tuesday, but Marmol mentioned that no decision has been made yet.
“You have a couple of options, moving [Kyle Gibson] up and then filling the spot later,” Marmol said. “You can go bullpen day; You can bring up someone from Triple-A. We’re trying to figure out what’s best in the short term and long term. We have yet to nail it down.”
However, the Cardinals’ manager added that the team was hopeful about the experienced pitcher’s comeback from the back injury.
“He got an injection and is down for a couple of days,” Marmol stated. “Then we will make a decision on what that progression looks like to get him back.
Is Matz Even the Solution for the Rotation?
Matz, who has a 55-60 record with a 4.31 ERA in his career, signed a four-year, $44 million contract with St. Louis in 2022. Pitching the previous year with the Toronto Blue Jays, he achieved a 14-7 record, which was the second-best win total in the American League.
However, he’s had a disappointing and frustrating time with the Cardinals. Since joining the team, he’s only won 10 out of 22 games. He’s also had multiple trips to the IL and has only thrown 180.2 innings in his two-plus years in St. Louis. And in his last game against the Detroit Tigers, Matz allowed four runs on seven hits in just 3 1/3 innings.
Considering the size of his contract, that’s caused some criticism in Cardinal Nation.
It’s also led to speculation by some that the Cardinals might be looking for a better option. Post-Dispatch writer Ben Fredrickson recently wrote the team might look to move Matz to the bullpen and bring up one of their young starters in Triple-A Memphis.
Right-hander Sem Rebberse could be a potential addition for the Cards, the report mentioned. Or possibly the returning Zack Thompson, who originally began the year in the starting five because of Gray’s injury.
On Friday, the Cardinals (15-17, fourth place in the NL Central) recalled right-handed reliever Kyle Leahy to take Matz’s place on the roster.
