Steven MatzTBR · RP

2026 review

Steven Matz was a swingman this year, a 5.49 ERA in 80.1 IP over 36 games for TBR with a 17.8 K% and a 7.3 BB% over 342 BF. He started, then moved to the bullpen after his first outing Jun 7, a 5.48 ERA in 46.0 IP as a starter against a 5.50 ERA in 34.1 IP as a reliever. A left elbow inflammation put him on the 15-day IL May 5 until May 20, then a left ankle sprain sent him back Jun 25, a rehab assignment Jul 9, and he returned Jul 25, missing 47 regular-season days across 2 stints. His ERA ran 6.28 in 53.0 IP before the stint and 3.95 in 27.1 IP after he returned. His sinker climbed from 93.3 mph Mar-Jun to 94.3 mph Jul-Sep, and he fared better against lefties, .200/.246/.327 over 119 PA, than righties, .259/.323/.507 over 223 PA. Taken in 460 of 674 drafts at ADP rank 884, he finished 926th of 1472 in the TDK LABS 5x5 value rank, 42 spots below, and 463rd of 575 relievers. His 5.49 ERA ran 0.44 above his 5.05 xERA over 342 BF. The TDK LABS card had him logging a season-long outing in early May, and by late Sep it read him as a long reliever with a thin role.