Matz Bullpen Move
Rays move Steven Matz to bullpen following two rough starts, replacement unknown
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The Tampa Bay Rays are moving left-hander Steven Matz to the bullpen after two disastrous starts pushed his ERA to 5.48. Manager Kevin Cash made the announcement on June 6 before the Rays' game against the Miami Marlins, saying Matz will pitch in relief for the "foreseeable future," according to Associated Press.
Matz signed a two-year, $15 million deal with Tampa Bay last December to return to a starting role. That plan has now stalled just weeks into his comeback from a May elbow injury.
Two Brutal Starts Sealed the Decision
Matz's last two outings were ugly. On June 2 against the Detroit Tigers, he allowed 5 runs on 6 hits — including two home runs — in just 1.2 innings. The Rays lost 8-0. The start before that, he gave up 6 earned runs in 3.0 innings against Baltimore. Combined, he allowed 11 earned runs in just 4.6 innings over those two games, per Yahoo Sports.
Cash pointed to a key physical warning sign: Matz's fastball velocity dropped from 93.8 mph in April to 92.0 mph in his June 2 start. Cash pulled him after just 53 pitches. "Obviously the last two starts haven't been great," Matz said, adding that the team is "looking out for me, they're looking out for the team," according to ABC10.
Elbow Injury Clouds Matz's Return to Starting
Matz had actually started the season well. He went 4-1 with a 3.86 ERA in his first seven starts. Then, on May 4, he landed on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. After returning on May 20, he went 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA in 8.2 innings — a sharp fall from where he had been, per NH Register.
Matz's career has been marked by arm problems, including past UCL tears and flexor tendon issues. The Rays knew the risk when they signed him. Their goal was to convert him back into a starter after he spent most of 2025 as a reliever — posting a 3.05 ERA in 53 appearances for the Cardinals and Red Sox.
Mason Englert Steps In to Fill the Rotation Spot
Cash said the replacement for Matz's rotation spot has not yet been confirmed. However, right-hander Mason Englert — recently recalled from Triple-A Durham — is the likely candidate to handle bulk innings behind an opener, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
The move puts more pressure on an already-busy bullpen. The Rays are also waiting on the full returns of starters Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen. Tampa Bay entered June 6 at 37-23, holding a 1.5-game lead in the AL East over the New York Yankees despite a recent 2-8 skid.
Cash Says the Bullpen Move Is Not Permanent
Cash was careful to frame the shift as temporary. He said the move is "not by any stretch permanent" and that the team wants to "freshen him back up," per Rutland Herald. The Rays are paying Matz $7.5 million per year through 2027 — a steep price for a middle-relief role.
Matz himself stayed optimistic. He pointed to 2023, when he moved to the Cardinals' bullpen in late May and then returned to the rotation in July — going 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA. "We're here to win baseball games," Matz said, suggesting he sees the demotion as a temporary rough patch, not a career shift.
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