It’s been an up and down year for Steven Matz in his second season with the St. Louis Cardinals.
After watching his ERA skyrocket to 5.72 in May, Matz was moved to the bullpen.
During his time as a reliever, Matz returned to form and ultimately earned himself a spot back in the rotation.
And since then, the veteran left-hander has been a completely different pitcher.
Over his last six starts, Matz has pitched 33.1 innings, allowed just eight runs on 25 hits, has walked only seven and recorded 29 strikeouts, and has an ERA of 2.16.
On Twitter, Cards Convo posted some of Matz’s stats over his last six starts.
Steven Matz in his last 6 starts:
33.1 IP (4 wins)
25 H
8 R
2.16 ERA
7 BB
29 K#STLCards— Cards Convo ™ (@CardinalsConvo) August 13, 2023
Matz has returned to form at a crucial time for the Cardinals.
The 32-year-old joined the Cardinals on a four-year, $44 million deal prior to the MLB lockout.
He dealt with injuries in 2022 and got off to a tough start this year.
However, he now has become the Cardinals’ most consistent starter.
In his 25 starts, he owns a record of 4-7, but has lowered his ERA to 3.86.
That’s the best mark of any Cardinals starter this season.
On Saturday, Matz gave the Cardinals six innings and allowed just two runs, striking out five and not allowing a walk.
Though the Cardinals are well out of contention this season and likely will not be playing in the postseason, Matz’s resurgence is a good sign for the team as they assess what they have in-house and prepare for 2024.
He led the Cards to their 52nd win of the season on Saturday in Kansas City.
NEXT: Cardinals Legend Praises Young Starter After Dominant Start