Veteran St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz is nearing a return from the Injured List. However, his role is undecided when he returns to the Big Leagues. Matz has been on the IL for most of the season; however, after two rehab starts, he’s eyeing a mid-August return.
Veteran Cardinals Pitcher’s Role Undecided As He Nears Return
Matz’s Injuries
Matz hit the IL on May 3rd with a lower back strain. He twice started a rehab assignment in the Minor Leagues before being shut down when his back injury flared up. In August, the lefty pitcher made two starts for the Cardinal’s triple-A affiliate, Memphis Redbirds.
Cardinals Manager Oliver Marmol said he felt good after throwing 50 pitches in his start on Tuesday. Matz threw increased his pitch count from 34 on an August 1st start. In both starts, he allowed two runs. He pitched into the third inning in his most recent start. He has thrown over two-thirds of his pitches for strikes in the two starts.
Matz’s Role When He Returns Isn’t Decided
The Cardinals made a splash at the Trade Deadline by acquiring starting pitcher Erick Fedde from the Chicago White Sox. The move seemed to fill the hole in the Cardinals’ fifth starter role since Matz last pitched on April 30. The team had some success with Andre Pallante in Matz’s absence.
Marmol told reporters this week that the organization is stretching Matz out to be a starter. However, he added that Matz could potentially be used out of the bullpen depending on the team need.
The moving part is Lance Lynn. The righty starter injured his knee on July 23 and the Cardinals placed him on the 15-day IL. He is also projected to return in mid-August. If Matz beats Lynn back from the IL, presumably, it would be between him and Pallante for the fifth starter spot. However, the team has a history of piggybacking starters with Pallante and could reserve both for that spot in the rotation.
Matz was 1-2 with a 6.18 ERA in six starts before he hit the injured list. He gave up three earned runs in the first three starts and 16 in the next three before hitting the IL.
Fedde Settling In
When Matz returns, he certainly won’t take the place of Fedde. The right-handed starter has pitched two games for the Cardinals so far, and in those games, he has pitched five innings both times. In the first game, he surrendered five runs and picked up the loss against the Chicago Cubs on the road. In the second game, he only surrendered one run in those five innings and picked up the win over the Tampa Bay Rays at home.
“I’ve known this place to be a great stadium, great fans, and to finally get here and be wearing a Cardinals jersey it’s exciting,” Fedde said after the game. “I’m glad we were able to get a win on the first one.”
Regardless of Matz’s and Lynn’s injury status, Fedde will remain on the starting lineup as long as he is healthy. The starter has a 3.28 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 23 starts with the White Sox and the Cardinals.
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