The St. Louis Cardinals are watching their postseason hopes slowly dwindle by the day. Despite splitting a series with the San Diego Padres, they are six games back in the National League Wild Card race.
However, St. Louis may soon receive an extra arm. Left-hander Steven Matz has been out since the end of April with a back issue, but Cardinals insider Jeff Jones reported that a move could be coming soon.
“Steven Matz is traveling with the Cardinals on the road trip,” Jones tweeted. “Expectation is that he will be activated from the IL this weekend, perhaps as the extra pitcher when rosters expand on Sunday.”
Rosters will expand from 26 players to 28 on Sunday. St. Louis will have the opportunity to add one pitcher and one position player.
Because Matz struggled earlier in the season, he will likely be moved to the bullpen when he returns. He has ultimately performed better as a reliever and did well last year after St. Louis moved him to the bullpen.
If Matz is right, he could be a solid relief option from the left side for St. Louis, but it’s unlikely the Cardinals will put him back in their starting rotation.
The 33-year-old is 1-2 in six starts with a 6.18 ERA. He signed a four-year, $ 44 million contract with the Cardinals prior to the 2022 season and has not yet lived up to that contract.
But the contract could somewhat be salvaged if he does well in the bullpen, which has been the ultimate strength of the Cardinals this season.
We’ll see what the Cardinals decide to do with him if he is indeed activated.
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