The St. Louis Cardinals have a chance to have a solid starting rotation if all goes according to plan and everybody stays healthy.
Jack Flaherty made his first start of the spring on Monday against the defending World Series champion Houston Astros, allowing just one run on one hit over three innings of work and striking out five batters.
After Flaherty’s exit, left-hander Steven Matz took over and was even better, throwing three perfect innings and striking out four.
On Twitter, the Cardinals made a post to celebrate the return on Matz and his dominance against the Astros on Monday.
4 strikeouts over a trio of perfect innings for Steven Matz! pic.twitter.com/vgpwXGKsln
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 6, 2023
Matz, like Flaherty, endured an injury-plagued season last year, with shoulder and knee aids keeping him out for extended periods of time.
However, Matz looked like his old self on Monday against the Astros, which is a good sign for the Cardinals and their rotation.
The veteran left-hander was signed to a four-year, $44 million contract after the 2021 season.
When healthy, he mostly struggled in 2022, but found his groove again after returning in a bullpen role in September.
He had won 14 games in 2021 and posted a 3.82 ERA with the Toronto Blue Jays.
But the left-hander appears to have found his groove again and looks prepared to be a steady force in the Cardinals rotation in 2023.
A healthy Matz gives St. Louis a second left-handed starter to go alongside Jordan Montgomery and somebody who can give the team some much-needed innings coverage.
Cardinals fans certainly have to be encouraged by what they saw out of Matz on Monday.
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Jack Flaherty Comments On His Most Recent Outing
