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MLB Writer Identifies Quick Fix for Cardinals

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Connor Greene | Last updated Jun 2, 2025 4:05 PM ET

As part of a league-wide feature, 30 MLB beat writers were asked to offer one quick fix for each team.

For the Cardinals, MLB.com beat writer John Denton pointed to the pitching staff, suggesting that left-hander Steven Matz should be converted back to a full-time starter.

Denton believes the Cardinals should return to the six-man rotation they originally planned for at the start of the season, this time with Matz fully in the mix.

With the team entering a stretch of 13 straight games and 29 in 30 days, Denton argues that inserting Matz into the rotation would help preserve the club's aging arms like Miles Mikolas (36), Sonny Gray (35) and Erick Fedde (32).

Matz’s time in St. Louis has been rocky since he signed a four-year, $44 million deal before the 2022 season. Injuries—including shoulder, knee, lat, and back issues—limited him to just 52 games (34 starts) over his first three years. During that stretch he posted a 10-12 record and a 4.73 ERA.

Despite his past setbacks, Matz has been one of the best arms early in 2025. Over 16 appearances (including two starts) he’s posted a 3-1 record, a 2.16 ERA and 27 strikeouts.

He also impressed in spring training, going 2-0 with a 2.29 ERA across five starts. However, to start the regular season, the Cardinals continued with him in a hybrid role, using him primarily out of the bullpen with only the two spot starts in April.

“He’s been awesome because he’s served in a couple of capacities for us,” manager Oliver Marmol said. “He’s given us length out of the ‘pen when needed… He has started games and has given us the most efficient and effective versions of that with only 65 to 70 pitches to work with.”

Matz embraced that flexibility, saying, “That was kind of my mindset coming into this season. Whatever they want me to do, I’m going to do it.”

Now, as the Cardinals sit four games behind the NL Central-leading Cubs, Denton sees Matz as a key piece to narrowing the gap and bringing some stability to the rotation for the grind ahead.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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