Apr 23, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) walks off the field after he was removed from the game by manager Oliver Marmol (37) during the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz is close to rejoining the rotation after being sidelined since early May with a lower back strain. The left-hander started a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield last Thursday, following two high-intensity bullpen sessions.
On Tuesday night, Matz made his second rehab start, throwing 35 pitches over 1 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and five unearned runs, walking one, and striking out three. He is expected to make two to three more rehab starts to reach 75-80 pitches before returning to the Cardinals.
Matz Progresses Through Rehab
In his first rehab start at Triple-A, Matz pitched two innings, throwing 24 pitches with one walk and two strikeouts without giving up a hit. Cardinals Manager Oliver Marmol reported to KMOX radio on Sunday that Matz felt good after that outing.
“We’re still hopeful that maybe Matz can come back and contribute,” said Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak on KMOX Radio.
Filling the Fifth Starter Spot
Matz’s injury left a gap in the fifth starter spot, currently filled by left-hander Andre Pallante. In his last three starts, Pallante has a 3.86 ERA with two wins and one loss. Mozeliak emphasized the importance of Pallante’s ability to keep the ball on the ground and avoid giving up free bases, making him effective when he executes well.
Pallante Competing for Rotation Spot
Pallante has been making a case for staying in the rotation. In his most recent start against the Colorado Rockies, he pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. Manager Marmol praised Pallante’s control and effectiveness throughout the game. However, Pallante struggled in his second start of the season against the Houston Astros, giving up six runs in three innings.
Cardinals’ Fifth Starter Needs
The Cardinals aim for their fifth starter to consistently pitch into the sixth inning to ease the bullpen’s workload. Matz managed this in three out of six starts before his injury, while Pallante has done so in two of his three starts. If neither Matz nor Pallante secures the role, Mozeliak hinted at exploring the trade market for a starting pitcher in the coming month.
