Cardinals Prominent Hurler Expected To Be Out For Season After Lat Strain

The St. Louis Cardinals are limping through the final month of the season as injuries continue to mount. 

One of the few bright spots of the post-trade deadline Cardinals was the improved play of a starting pitcher who appeared to finally be living up to his contract and pedigree -- until he went down.

Steven Matz has been on the injured list for weeks and it's likely that his season is over.

"Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol acknowledged for the first time on Sept. 3 that Matz is unlikely to pitch for the club again this season," MLB.com's John Denton wrote. "Matz still hasn’t begun throwing since he went on the injured list on Aug. 14, retroactive to Aug. 13, due to a strained muscle near his left shoulder."

Matz had been lights out prior to his injury, proving that he could be part of the solution amid next year's rotation reconstruction. 

Since rejoining the rotation on July 9, Matz has gone 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA, 38-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .190 batting average against in 38 2/3 innings across seven starts. 

The southpaw has a 3.86 ERA, 98-to-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .263 batting average against and 1.33 WHIP in 105 innings this season -- good for a 112 ERA+ after a cold start. 

While fans surely would love to see him again this season, it's wise not to push his rehab when the team is playing for nothing. Hopefully, he can come back stronger in 2024.