Matthews dealt to Brewers
To get right-handed starter Jamey Wright for their stretch run, the Cardinals dealt a Potomac Cannon and a former Woodbridge Viking.
St. Louis has completed its Aug. 29 trade with Milwaukee by sending 1991 Woodbridge High School graduate Mike Matthews to the Brewers. When the trade was first made, it was announced as Cannons’ center fielder Christopher Morris and a player to be named for Wright. Matthews found out Wednesday that he was the player to be named.
Matthews had been on the disabled list with a strained right hip flexor for the Cardinals, whose bullpen was thriving in September even without him. With St. Louis playing at Milwaukee’s Miller Park, Matthews quickly changed clubhouses and worked with Brewer pitching coach Bill Castro prior to Wednesday night’s game.
Milwaukee may change Matthews’ role from a situational left-handed reliever to that of a starter. Matthews was 2-1 with a 3.89 ERA in 43 outings over 41 2/3 innings with the Cardinals this year.
“There was just no room for me, no long relief, even though my numbers were halfway good,” Matthews, 28, told MLB.com. “The starters were going seven, eight innings and all of a sudden it’s been seven or eight days since you pitched.”
By going from the first- to the last-place team in the six-team National League Central Division, Matthews won’t get to pitch in the postseason for the second straight season. However, he will get more of a chance to pitch.
“We’d like to see him start after he gets a few outings out of the bullpen,” first-year Milwaukee manager Jerry Royster said. “It really depends on him.”
Morris finished third in the Class A Carolina League with 55 stolen bases as he hit .249 with no homers and 38 RBI for the Cannons. He wrapped up the season with Class Beloit in the Brewers’ system, hitting .357 with an RBI and a steal in four games.
Wright, who was 5-13 with a 5.35 ERA in 19 starts for the Brewers, has made two starts for St. Louis. In nine innings with his new team, Wright’s 1-0 with a 7.00 ERA.