March 7, 2025
The Athletic's Katie Woo writes that the St. Louis Cardinals seem inclined to use left-handed veteran
Steven Matz in the starting rotation to start the season. However, it's not a guarantee, especially is young pitchers
Andre Pallante and
Michael McGreevy continue their strong springs. The main thing is that Matz has been healthy in camp, and the Cardinals will get a better sense of how effective the 33-year-old southpaw will be over the final few weeks of Grapefruit League action. Barring a late-spring trade, Woo believes Matz will be on the Opening Day roster as a back-end starter. Matz has allowed just one run with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings over his two spring starts. Since Matz has mostly dealt with injuries the last couple of seasons, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him eventually moved to a long-relief role when St. Louis feels Pallante or McGreevy are ready.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Athletic - Katie Woo
January 6, 2025
According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, the St. Louis Cardinals are continuing to explore a potential trade for left-handed pitcher
Steven Matz. Earlier this offseason, it was reported that the southpaw, along with Eric Fedde were drawing interest on the trade market. Woo said that with
Sonny Gray and
Miles Mikolas having no-trade clauses Matz would likely be moved in order to shed salary, especially if the team cannot find a suitor for
Nolan Arenado. Woo noted that the team would prefer to hold Fedde until the trade deadline. Last season, Matz logged just 44 1/3 innings of work with a 5.08 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Currently, he sits as the No.5 starter in rotation but if he were to be moved, then top prospect
Quinn Mathews or
Michael McGreevy would have a chance to open the season in the majors. Mathews held a strong 2.76 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP with 202 punchouts across 143 innings in his first minor league season.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: Katie Woo
December 26, 2024
According to Mark Feinsand, Bryan Hoch, and John Denton of MLB.com, St. Louis Cardinals starting pitchers
Erick Fedde and
Steven Matz are gaining interest on the trade market from several clubs such as the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians. With the Cardinals looking to reshape their roster and shed payroll, moving these options could allow their younger starting pitchers to have more opportunities during the 2025 season. Fedde opened the 2024 season in Chicago but was dealt to the Cardinals at the trade deadline. Across 177 1/3 frames, the 31-year-old posted a 3.30 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Matz has battled injuries over the past two seasons and pitched only 44 1/3 frames last summer and posted a 5.08 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. If the Cardinals were to move one of these arms, this could create a path for their top pitching prospects,
Tink Hence and
Quinn Mathews, to spend most of the 2025 summer in the big leagues.
--Andy Smith - RotoBallerSource: MLB.com
September 2, 2024
St. Louis Cardinals left-hander
Steven Matz, who was activated from the 60-day injured list on Sunday, will make the start for Tuesday's contest against the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. The move to start Matz will give right-hander
Erick Fedde an extra day of rest this week. Matz was available out of the bullpen on Sunday for the series finale in the Bronx against the New York Yankees, but he didn't pitch. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw has made only six starts for the Cards in 2024, and not since April 30. He wasn't very good in those six starts, yielding a 6.18 ERA and 1.73 WHIP while striking out only 17 and walking 11 in 27 2/3 innings, so fantasy managers should probably be looking to avoid him on Tuesday against the first-place Brewers. Matz is likely to head back to the bullpen after Tuesday's spot start, too, so leave him on the waiver wire in mixed leagues.
--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
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