3 STL Cardinals pitchers on thin ice after disappointing start

1. Cardinals might need to bite the bullet and admit mistake with Steven Matz

Early in free agency after the 2021 season, the Cardinals pulled off a move many believed was exactly what they needed, inking then-30-year-old southpaw Steven Matz to a four-year, $44 million contract that plugged a huge hole in the rotation. Unfortunately, that hole was only plugged on paper.

Injuries to his shoulder and knee limited him to just 15 appearances in the 2022 season for St. Louis and the results were not ideal as he posted a 5.25 ERA over 10 starts and five additional outings. Unfortunately, things have been even worse to begin the 2023 campaign for the lefty.

Over his first four starts this season, Matz has an 0-3 record that looks even worse next to a 6.55 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. He’s yet to make it through the sixth inning in any of his starts, has given up a home run per start, and allowed four or more runs in three of his four starts as well.

Admittedly, there is something to be said about the fact that Matz has been a bit unlucky in that St. Louis has scored more than three runs in just one of his starts — but even then, his outings have put the team behind the 8-ball with his underperformance.

Again going back to the top prospects in Graceffo and Liberatore, along with the coming return of Wainright, the Cardinals have the ability to change up the rotation soon. And if Matz doesn’t start delivering like the pitcher they paid him to be in free agency, it might not be the worst option for the organization to admit its mistake and move on.