Veteran left-hander Steven Matz, who has been sidelined for most of the 2024 season due to recurring back issues, appears to be edging closer to a return to the major leagues. Matz, 33, has struggled with his recovery, including a setback in June that delayed his comeback. Despite these challenges, the Cardinals are optimistic about his imminent return.
According to MLB.com’s John Denton, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol reported that Matz, after pitching four scoreless innings on 76 pitches, is nearing a big-league comeback. The plan is for Matz to be evaluated by the team’s medical staff upon returning to St. Louis. Marmol indicated that Matz may need one more rehab start before rejoining the major league roster.
The return of Veteran Matz could provide much-needed relief for a Cardinals rotation that has had its share of difficulties this season. Sonny Gray has been a consistent performer, holding a 3.93 ERA and a 3.14 FIP in 22 starts. Andre Pallante has also shown promise with a 3.75 ERA and 3.76 FIP across 13 starts since late May.
However, the rest of the rotation has struggled significantly. Miles Mikolas has posted a 5.41 ERA, his worst since returning from Japan in 2018, and Lance Lynn has had a 4.78 ERA before being placed on the injured list with knee inflammation in late July. The addition of Kyle Gibson and Erick Fedde, who have ERAs of 6.11 and 5.63, respectively, has not provided the expected stability.
Matz’s tenure with the Cardinals has been uneven. After a 5.25 ERA in 48 innings during his first season, he struggled with a 5.72 ERA in his initial 10 starts last year before being demoted to the bullpen. Despite a strong finish with a 1.84 ERA and a 31.2% strikeout rate in his final seven starts, he faced difficulties again this season, posting a 6.18 ERA in six starts before his injury. Concerns about his low strikeout rate and high batting average on balls in play (.362) remain.
Meanwhile, Lance Lynn’s return is also anticipated, with Marmol suggesting that Lynn might rejoin the team without a rehab assignment if his live bullpen session goes well. Lynn, who has been out for nearly three weeks, is also expected to contribute to the rotation.
The potential return of both Matz and Lynn could offer the Cardinals more options as they push to re-enter the postseason race, especially after a challenging August. Additionally, standout center fielder Michael Siani, who has been recovering from an oblique strain, is expected to resume playing soon, which could further bolster the team’s performance in both defense and pitching.
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