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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Steven Matz enjoyed a resurgent 2025 campaign, primarily operating out of the bullpen and as a swingman for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox. In a unique role, Matz appeared in 53 games (only 2 starts) and logged 76.2 innings, posting a sharp 3.05 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. His transition to shorter stints seemed to revitalize his stuff, as he limited opponents to a .247 average and maintained a solid 46.3% groundball rate. He was particularly effective after a mid-season move to Boston, where he posted a sparkling 2.08 ERA in 21 appearances. This versatility and effectiveness earned him a two-year, $15 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in the offseason, a team renowned for maximizing pitcher value.

Entering 2026, Matz is an intriguing late-round flier or waiver wire monitor, depending on his usage. The Rays have indicated he will get a chance to crack the starting rotation, where his fantasy ceiling is highest. If he secures a rotation spot, he offers the potential for 120+ innings with solid ratios and wins on a competitive team. However, fantasy managers should be wary of the "Rays effect"—he could just as easily be used as a bulk reliever or "opener," which complicates his weekly value in traditional leagues but boosts it in formats that reward efficiency and holds. Projections see his ERA regressing to the low-4.00s as a starter, so he is best viewed as a matchup-dependent streamer or depth piece rather than a set-and-forget starter.