Steven Matz is proving to be a stabilizing force in the Red Sox bullpen
At the MLB trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox were one of the quietest teams in baseball. They only made two trades focused on improving their pitching. One of those moves involved acquiring Steven Matz from the Cardinals, who has so far been a great addition to the pitching staff.
Through the first 11 games of his Red Sox career, Matz has posted a 0.73 ERA and struck out eight batters. In 12.1 innings of work, he has allowed one home run and shown excellent control, only walking two batters. As the Red Sox have moved closer to securing a playoff spot, the New York native has helped stabilize the bullpen.
Due to his stellar play over the last month, the veteran lefty owns a 2.94 ERA this season in 67.1 innings. If the 2025 campaign ended today, that would be his lowest ERA since the 2015 season with the Mets when he was a rookie. For the Red Sox, Matz's career year has come at the perfect time.
With Matz in the mix, the Red Sox's bullpen has been one of the best in baseball despite missing key pieces. Their back end also includes Aroldis Chapman, Garrett Whitlock, and Justin Slaten, who was recently activated from the IL. That group, along with Matz when at their best, is not an ideal matchup for any hitter.
As the Red Sox look to end their playoff drought, they will need Matz to continue being lights out of the bullpen. Since the trade, the 34-year-old has not allowed a run in 10 of his 11 appearances. Although it is a small sample size, Matz has been one of the best relievers acquired at the deadline.
That has been a welcome sign for the Red Sox, who need a player like Matz as they look to take the next step in becoming a playoff contender. So far, he has exceeded expectations and set himself up for a big payday in free agency this winter.
I'd like to see his underlying data before confirming my suspicions, but if his FB is Averaging 94.5, then he's in for a two year deal at $8M? ($4M per)? Or is he more likely to receive something closer to Justin Wilson's $2.25M? It's great to see this move work out though. I really thought Matz was redundant, but I've been proven wrong. I love being wrong. It means I have learned something new or seen a new point of view. Just makes me better and the Red Sox as well. Cool