On Sunday, the St. Louis Cardinals made a significant roster move by activating left-handed pitcher Steven Matz from the 60-day injured list. This decision comes after Matz had been sidelined for four months due to persistent back problems.
Matz initially landed on the injured list at the end of April because of a back injury. Unfortunately, his recovery process hit a setback when he aggravated the same issue during his rehabilitation in June. This extended his time away from the field, complicating his return to form and his contributions to the team.
At 33 years old, Matz’s 2024 season has been marked by a series of struggles. Before his injury, he had a record of 1-2 with a 6.18 ERA across six starts for the Cardinals. This performance comes during his third year of a four-year, $44 million contract with St. Louis. Over the course of his 10-year career, which includes stints with the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Cardinals, Matz has compiled a career record of 55-60 and a 4.31 ERA. His experience spans 187 career appearances, with 169 of those being starts.
In addition to Matz’s return, the Cardinals also activated rookie outfielder Michael Siani from the 10-day injured list. Siani, who has been recovering from an oblique strain, is 25 years old. Before his injury, he had been contributing solidly to the team, batting .256 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in 101 games this season.
The activation of both Matz and Siani comes as major league rosters have expanded by two players for the final month of the regular season. This roster expansion provides teams with added flexibility and depth as they head into the crucial last stretch of games. Consequently, no additional corresponding moves were required to accommodate these activations.
For the Cardinals, the return of Matz and Siani represents a boost as they look to finish the season strong. Matz’s return to the mound will be particularly noteworthy, as the team hopes he can regain his pre-injury form and contribute effectively to their pitching rotation. Meanwhile, Siani’s return bolsters the outfield and provides the team with additional offensive and defensive options.
Overall, the activation of these two players signifies a positive step forward for the Cardinals as they navigate the final games of the season, aiming to make a strong push and maximize their performance with their key players back in action.