The Cardinals announced that left-hander Steven Matz has been placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 1, due to a lower back strain. Right-hander Kyle Leahy was recalled in a corresponding move.
The Cards signed the southpaw to a four-year, $44MM deal going into 2022 but they’ve gotten little return on that investment so far. Matz battled shoulder issues for much of 2022 and only tossed 48 innings with a 5.25 earned run average. Last year, he struggled out of the gate and got moved to the bullpen. He got in a good groove and retook a rotation spot as they played out the string on a lost season, finishing strong enough to have a 3.86 ERA by season’s end.
The club was surely hoping he could carry some momentum from that solid finish into 2024, and he did for a brief moment. After three starts, Matz had allowed just three earned runs and had a 1.80 ERA. But he’s allowed 16 earned runs in his three most recent outings, swelling his ERA to 6.18 for the year.
Per Katie Woo of The Athletic (X link), an issue cropped up with Matz’s back after his April 23 outing. The club had an off-day on April 25 and then a rainout April 29, which meant Matz got some extra rest before taking the ball again on April 30. It was hoped that the extra time would help him get beyond the back problem, but that didn’t come to pass. His velocity was down in that last start and he was pulled after allowing four earned runs in 3 1/3 innings. He was sent for an MRI yesterday, per Woo on X, and it seems the club has decided to put Matz on the shelf for at least a couple of weeks.
That will leave the club with Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Miles Mikolas as healthy starters, but they will need a fifth at some point. As of today, the Cards are playing 13 games in a row before their next off-day.
Drew Rom was recently transferred to the 60-day injured list and won’t be an option. Matthew Liberatore could be considered but he’s been in the bullpen and isn’t stretched out. Zach Thompson was in the big league rotation before being being moved to the bullpen and then optioned to the minors. He tossed 3 2/3 innings in his most recent Triple-A start.
Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein are each stretched out at Triple-A on on the 40-man, though Kloffenstein has a 5.93 ERA this year. Robberse is in much better form with a 1.77 ERA through six Triple-A starts, though he just started last night and likely wouldn’t be called up before Tuesday. Prospects Gordon Graceffo and Michael McGreevy are also stretched out in Triple-A, but neither is on the 40-man and they both have worse results than Robberse so far.
As far as who is pitching well right now that would be Robberse. Liberatore as the article states really isn’t stretched out. Thompson I think blew his shot early this year. Perhaps Graceffo or Mcgreevy but Robberse seems like the logical choice.
Some people call this situation “no depth”. But Cardinals fan call it “Mo depth”.
There is depth it’s just not good depth. Robberse is looking promising hopefully he can become something. Hence by mid 2025 might be good. I bet we take that Hagen Smith in the draft but he’s not gonna be ready for a bit.
Trevor Bauer. What did they have to lose at this point? At least they’ll put butts back in the seats.
Careful.
The one thing they know how to do is put butts in the seats. The opposite would happen if they signed Bauer. Their play, signings, talent evaluation, contracts and trades can be fairly questioned, but they absolutely know how to run a brand and a business while making those turnstiles turn.
Attendance numbers seem to be high but as someone that is frequently there, the numbers are not real. I’ve been thinking more and more about the benefits of him signing here, but I do agree with your point that they would certainly not, and are pretty good at managing their brand regardless.
I don’t know a soul that wouldn’t want Trevor Bauer on their team. This is all a narrative that MLB wants people to believe I know a ton of Cardinal fans and everyone I talked to would love to have him.
I know 30 GM’s who disagree.
Maybe, but maybe those 30 GMs might be getting pressure to not sign him.
You don’t know the souls who won’t sign him as well as the MANY fans including women you’d piss off. He’s not that great either, and not worth the trouble. For me I am tired of the nutcases of abusers and users and glad we are steering clear of them. That would ruin the clubhouse too. I just know a FEW souls who don’t have any say on signing him that want him. Please quit bringing this up!
Nope. That could cost them many butts not in seats.
Liberatore has done well in the pen. They should leave him there. (although calling up Leahy today and sticking him in the pen may mean they’re thinking about moving Libby to a starter again or at least sliding him into an opener slot)
I don’t know. Liberatore I believe deserves another shot. He has a better FIP than Lynn or Gibson do. But he’s not stretched out and that’s an issue.
I’m not sure how long it takes to stretch out and if it can be done at the major league level, but he does deserve another shot so we agree on that. The most he’s pitched all year is 3 innings in NY and that proved to be one batter too many.
Perhaps they could call up Robberse and have them both ready to pitch at the same time. Or maybe Fernandez he’s pitched multiple innings this year and has looked good.
The team has depth. Sonny Gray is irreplaceable but anyone else there is a very real chance could be replaced and the team wouldn’t miss a beat.
I’d like to see Robberse next. He’s the most exciting option available, but they may want to have him marinate a little longer. In any case, the team needs offensive solutions more than anything else. The hitting has been dire.
It’s gotta be Robberse or Liberatore. If they think it’s a short term injury perhaps they lean towards Robberse because they can send him back down if he doesn’t hit the ground running. But I think Liberatore deserves another shot too.
Trevor Bauer anyone? I keep hearing the clubhouse cancer rumors but I’m not sure how true that actually is. Of course, Cardinals don’t like controversial moves like that so maybe not. I think it’s worth a shot.
Mookie said he was a great teammate.
No thanks.
Who wants a selfish teammate in the clubhouse?
The same guy that was taking out of a game and he threw the ball over the outfield wall, because he was mad.
Among other issues..
Yeah if he’s selfish and a clubhouse cancer, I get it. But, prior teammates of his have said differently so I don’t really know. It IS telling that no team has signed him.
30 GMs in like to remind you NO and No means NO!!! Why can’t Trevor Bauer fanatics take NO for an answer?
Not a fanatic here! But we are all nerdy enough to be on this site and speculate what could, should, and shouldn’t happen. I think it’s worth discussing at least. Would he improve the rotation? Yeah probably so especially considering the Matz news. Is there anything he can do that will get him uncancelled? Any PR blitz? Anything? I don’t know. I just think having the discussion is worthwhile content. Is he really done for good? You’d think the A’s would have at least done something and the fact they haven’t is telling enough.
Leahy is only an inning eater with and 18 ERA, we definitely have a lack of depth,or as previously stated “MO Depth” Mo thinks everything is great as well as hiss Muppet Marmol.
shocking. this contract has worked out well.
He’s hurt. If you can predict injuries let me know who’s next.
I can predict based on his past performance that he has ONE good year in his ten year career and none wearing birds on the bat uniform
Most likely they’ll have LIberatore start on a strict pitch count and have guys ready to back him up in the short-term. If Matz is out for a significant amount of time, I would think they would go with Robberse.
And there’s always Pallante, who they are now stretching out to be a starter in Memphis.