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Cardinals To Activate Steven Matz From 60-Day IL Tomorrow

By Nick Deeds | August 31, 2024 at 8:28pm CDT

The Cardinals are poised to activate left-hander Steven Matz from the 60-day Injured List tomorrow, manager Oli Marmol told reporters (including Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat) earlier today. A corresponding 40-man roster move won’t be necessary after the club’s recent losses of outfielder Tommy Pham and right-hander Shawn Armstrong on the waiver wire opened up 40-man space, and tomorrow’s roster expansion means a corresponding active roster move also won’t be necessary.

Matz’s return to action after a four-month layoff due to back issues that were aggravated further by a setback during his first comeback attempt back in June. He’s now made six outings at the Triple-A level this month without any further setbacks, however, and has pitched to decent results with a 4.29 ERA and 18.9% strikeout rate in that time. Now, Matz appears ready to step back into the Cardinals’ pitching staff, though it’s not entirely clear yet whether he’ll do so as a starter or a reliever.

The 33-year-old southpaw has experience in both roles but has mostly been a starter throughout his career, including in his six starts early in the year before being sidelined by injury. He’s maxed out at 85 pitches in the minors to this point, suggesting he’s stretched out enough to take a role in the rotation, but the club’s rotation is already full at this point with Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Andre Pallante, Miles Mikolas, and Kyle Gibson all currently pitching as starters. Pallante has pitched in relief before and is the least experienced of the group, but he’s arguably been the club’s best starter since the All-Star break with a 3.29 ERA and 3.34 FIP in his past seven starts.

If the club wants to use both Matz and Pallante in the rotation, other possibilities include moving to a six man rotation or moving Mikolas, who has struggled to a 6.12 ERA over his last eight starts, into a bullpen role. Of course, the impending return of veteran righty Lance Lynn from the injured list figures to further complicate St. Louis’s rotation picture, giving them plenty of options to sort through in the coming days.

Matz won’t be the only player joining the Cardinals’ roster tomorrow, as they’ll need to add another position player to their mix when rosters expand as well. That player could be center fielder Michael Siani, who Jones describes as a “strong candidate” to be activated tomorrow. The 25-year-old has been shelved due to an oblique strain for almost the entire month of July but is currently in the midst of a rehab assignment and appears to be on the verge of returning. The game where Siani was injured brought to a close a 12-game hitting streak during which he raked to the tune of a .432/.488/.460 slash line while playing his typical elite defense in center and going 4-for-4 on the basepaths.

That sort of electric play has been sorely missed by the Cardinals in recent weeks, as they’ve put together a lackluster 11-14 record in his absence while relying on Victor Scott II to cover center field. Scott has been decent enough at the plate since returning to the majors for the first time since his disappointing cup of coffee to open the season, but his .243/.274/.400 (86 wRC+) slash line in August hasn’t compared to the fantastic stretch Siani was in the midst of prior to his injury.

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St. Louis Cardinals Transactions Michael Siani Steven Matz

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24 Comments

  1. DonOsbourne

    12 months ago

    As long as Pallante keeps his spot in the rotation, I don’t care what they do with Lynn and Matz. I would actually move Lynn to the bullpen to see how he looks in one inning stints. I think he could have a late career revival as a closer.

    The outfield is getting pretty crowded, especially if Walker is playing “no matter what”. Scott hasn’t been bad, but Siani deserves to start.

    Goldy should probably volunteer to sit a few days a week, but he is pushing his season numbers back toward respectability and probably wants to continue if he plans to play next season.

    3
    Reply
    • Blackpink in the area

      12 months ago

      Scott just isn’t ready yet. I understand why he’s playing now but once Siani is healthy then Siani has to play.

      Goldschmidt I fear is coming back next year. Hopefully it’s not too much money.

      4
      Reply
    • cah011381

      12 months ago

      No way Lynn is the closer with Helsley in the bullpen, but I’d definitely give him a look in the bullpen, and Matz too.

      Reply
      • Blackpink in the area

        12 months ago

        I want to see Matz dealt to Arizona for Jordan Montgomery in the offseason. Arizona can save some money and the Cardinals can hope Montgomery regains his form.

        Reply
        • GO1962

          12 months ago

          From what I have seen in 2024, I really don’t want to see Matz or Montgomery with the Cardinals in 2025. Neither provide the value of what their 2025 salaries will command, and both have reached their peak as performers and now are on the downside of their careers.

          1
          Reply
        • Blackpink in the area

          12 months ago

          I think both guys can bounce back but more confident in Montgomery. He was darn good for the Cardinals.

          Reply
      • DonOsbourne

        12 months ago

        I didn’t actually mean to suggest that Lynn could unseat Helsley. But they could/should decline Lynn’s option but still bring him back to fill Kittredge’s role and offer insurance against a Helsley injury. Also, there is a chance the Cardinals will be selling again at next year’s deadline and Helsley would be a prime chip.

        Reply
        • Blackpink in the area

          12 months ago

          Helsley is interesting because he’s only under control through 2025 and the Cardinals might not be any good next year and he would bring back something nice. But he’s from Oklahoma not for from St Louis and there is nobody ready to replace him.

          Reply
        • DonOsbourne

          12 months ago

          The Cardinals have a -59 run differential. Their Pythagorean W-L is 61-74. They have bigger issues than figuring out who would replace Helsley. Elite closers are wasted on losing teams. Not trading him at the deadline was the same kind of mistake as not trading Goldy and Arenado last year.

          2
          Reply
        • Blackpink in the area

          12 months ago

          The team was in a wildcard spot as of the deadline. And who knows what we could have actually gotten back for Goldschmidt and Arenado last year. I wouldn’t have complained if they traded Helsley but I also would like to sign him long term if the price is decent. The team isn’t in terrible shape. There actually is young talent but the team needs to let them play and develop.

          Reply
        • CardsFan57

          12 months ago

          LA was very interested in Arenado last year. Goldschmidt would have brought back something nice from a contender. I think both would have waived their no trade clause. Perhaps best of all the team wouldn’t have had two veteran players begging for veteran leadership in the dugout.

          1
          Reply
        • DonOsbourne

          12 months ago

          And an extra 50 million in payroll to spend on pitching.

          1
          Reply
  2. Blackpink in the area

    12 months ago

    #championship

    Reply
  3. Very Barry

    12 months ago

    Look for Sonny Gray to be moved by the trade deadline next year. He could be gone during the offseason. The St. Louis rebuild is inevitable. Sad to see such a storied franchise struggling so badly to get fans to come to games. A lot of vendors are down a lot of cash $$$ right now. Only way to turn this thing around is to burn down what is left, and start fresh.

    1
    Reply
    • cah011381

      12 months ago

      It remains to be seen if the rebuild is inevitable. If they do, they have to unload the front office, coaching staff, everyone. If they do that then I’ll support the rebuild.

      2
      Reply
      • Devlsh

        12 months ago

        To be fair, Mozeliak had one of his (rare) better offseasons, filling three rotation spots, adding Kittredge, Robertson, etc. without many missteps. That said, the fact that he’s said 2025 will be his last year actually HURTS the team. They’re in desperate need of injecting modern practices and fresh blood into the coaching staff, and what coveted coach on another team is likely to sign with the Cardinals, knowing the guy who signed him is gone at year end and the new guy may want his own people? And why let the current regime draft players that may not fit the new guy’s style or thought process?

        With that in mind, the Cardinals should start their search for a new President of Baseball Operations now, in the hopes of finding someone THIS offseason. The sooner they can bring in advanced pitching and hitting theorems, the more likely the club’s young players can grow and develop into the talent’s they were seen as.

        Reply
    • Blackpink in the area

      12 months ago

      The team is 500. That’s not good but it’s not bad. Goldschmidts 26 million comes off the books after 2024. There are a lot of teams worse off than the Cardinals dude.

      Reply
  4. Ben K

    12 months ago

    Steven Matz will always have his brilliant 3-hit as a batter W debut that gave us the joy of a celebrating Grandpa Matz in the stands.

    Reply
  5. Mike56

    12 months ago

    I’m like Blackpink, when Siani is ready he takes over in CF. Scott came up and did a real nice job but this CF is Sianis . Next year could change. Let Scott go back to Memphis and get regular ABs. Maybe bring Gorman back for the other spot

    3
    Reply
    • cah011381

      12 months ago

      Or bring up Koperniak, he’s had a pretty good year and probably earned a call up at some point.

      Reply
    • Blackpink in the area

      12 months ago

      I like Scott’s potential still he’s just not ready yet. Edmans injury and now Sianis forced the teams hand. Hopefully Scott is ready by mid season next year. And I wouldn’t be surprised if either him or Siani is traded they are both lefty center fielders not sure we need both.

      Reply
  6. Mike56

    12 months ago

    Maybe bring up another C Cisco. Had a huge night in Memphis debut

    Reply
  7. goldywannabe

    12 months ago

    he’s gonna pitch one game and get hurt again

    3
    Reply
  8. L Francis Reves

    12 months ago

    Ideally, he should replace Lynn in the rotation. If Palante were to be odd man out, it would be a miscarriage of justice.

    1
    Reply

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