How to handle rookie pitcher -- Quinn Mathews, Cardinals

rink23 · 04-18-2025, 03:06 AM

I am doing a 2025 Cardinals franchise -- essentially a reset of the reset the team pledged to do in the 2024-25 off-season but didn't really follow through on.
Anyway, one of the moves I made was to put left-handed pitcher Quinn Matthews in the starting rotation.
Like in the real world, Matthews, a 24-year-old who was taken in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, had a good spring training for me.
I put him in my rotation. The Cardinals demoted him to Memphis, where he quickly got injured and could be en route to Tommy John surgery.
Anyway, Matthews pitched great for me over his first nine starts going 6-0 with a 2.73 ERA. (six quality starts).
In his next nine starts, he was going 1-3 as his ERA ballooned to 4.19. (One quality start).
For the season, he is 7-3 with a 4.17 ERA over 92.1 innings in 17 starts.
Matthews didn't pitch in the minors after being drafted in 2023.
In 2024, at four levels, he pitched 144.1 innings over 26 starts finishing 8-5 with a 2.74 ERA.
It is July 3 in my league, what I am thinking is to shut down Matthews through the All-Star break and then bring him back after a start or two at AAA Memphis.
Then, I will use him down the stretch in regular rotation as long as I am in playoff contention.
The Cardinals are 50-37 and 5.5 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central. But sit in first place in the wild-card standings with a 5.5 game edge over the final playoff spot.
What do you think and any suggestions because the Matthews of April and May was probably the No. 2 starter on my staff.

pgjocki · 04-18-2025, 05:52 PM

I haven't been able to quantify that shutting a pitcher down early has any direct correlation to performance or injuries. I know that it's a real life situation but for OOTP I just run them out there and hope for the best.

BTW my Cardinals "resets" are not turning out all that great so far in 26

venflaalachi · 04-19-2025, 11:30 AM

I wouldn't shut him down, I'd keep running him in your rotation unless you have better options.

04-18-2025, 03:06 AM	#1
rink23 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 21,807	How to handle rookie pitcher -- Quinn Mathews, Cardinals I am doing a 2025 Cardinals franchise -- essentially a reset of the reset the team pledged to do in the 2024-25 off-season but didn't really follow through on. Anyway, one of the moves I made was to put left-handed pitcher Quinn Matthews in the starting rotation. Like in the real world, Matthews, a 24-year-old who was taken in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, had a good spring training for me. I put him in my rotation. The Cardinals demoted him to Memphis, where he quickly got injured and could be en route to Tommy John surgery. Anyway, Matthews pitched great for me over his first nine starts going 6-0 with a 2.73 ERA. (six quality starts). In his next nine starts, he was going 1-3 as his ERA ballooned to 4.19. (One quality start). For the season, he is 7-3 with a 4.17 ERA over 92.1 innings in 17 starts. Matthews didn't pitch in the minors after being drafted in 2023. In 2024, at four levels, he pitched 144.1 innings over 26 starts finishing 8-5 with a 2.74 ERA. It is July 3 in my league, what I am thinking is to shut down Matthews through the All-Star break and then bring him back after a start or two at AAA Memphis. Then, I will use him down the stretch in regular rotation as long as I am in playoff contention. The Cardinals are 50-37 and 5.5 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central. But sit in first place in the wild-card standings with a 5.5 game edge over the final playoff spot. What do you think and any suggestions because the Matthews of April and May was probably the No. 2 starter on my staff. Attached Images

04-18-2025, 05:52 PM	#2
pgjocki All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Maryland - just outside DC Posts: 1,590	I haven't been able to quantify that shutting a pitcher down early has any direct correlation to performance or injuries. I know that it's a real life situation but for OOTP I just run them out there and hope for the best. BTW my Cardinals "resets" are not turning out all that great so far in 26 __________________ - - - World Series championships: 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006, 2011

04-19-2025, 11:30 AM	#3
venflaalachi Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 284	I wouldn't shut him down, I'd keep running him in your rotation unless you have better options.