Rays moving struggling LHP Steven Matz to bullpen

Field Level Media|published: Sat 6th June, 16:49 2026

May 20, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Steven Matz (32) throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles in the second inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Struggling Rays left-handed pitcher Steven Matz will be removed from the rotation and sent to the bullpen, Tampa Bay announced Saturday.

Matz's ERA climbed to 5.48 after two poor outings, including Tuesday's 8-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers in which he allowed five runs and six hits, including two home runs, in 1 2/3 innings.

He gave up six runs on seven hits in three innings in his previous outing on May 27, an 11-2 loss to the host Baltimore Orioles.

"Got to try to work myself out of this rut and move forward," Matz said after the Detroit outing, when he was pulled after 53 pitches by Rays manager Kevin Cash, who said he made the move because the velocity on Matz's fastball was down from his average of 93.3 mph to 92 mph.

Matz, who turned 35 on May 29, returned May 20 from a stint on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation.

Prior to being placed on the IL, Matz was coming off one of his best starts of the season when he allowed one run on four hits over six innings against the San Francisco Giants.

He is now 4-3 with 37 strikeouts over 10 starts during his first season with Tampa Bay.

In 12 major league seasons, Matz is 64-65 with a 4.25 ERA over 256 outings (182 starts) for the New York Mets (2015-20), Toronto Blue Jays (2021), St. Louis Cardinals (2022-25), Boston Red Sox (2025) and Rays.

Cash has not named a replacement for Matz in the starting rotation for the Rays, who entered Saturday's play at 37-23 and are in first place in the American League East, 1 1/2 games ahead of the New York Yankees.

--Field Level Media

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