ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½

When he took the mound in the sixth inning Tuesday night against the Miami Marlins, Cardinals left-hander Steven Matz said it did not cross his mind what could happen in the days to come. But considering where the calendar is, he’s heard some of the possibilities for him as the trade deadline nears.

“It’s hard to avoid the idea of uprooting stuff when you’ve got family involved and stuff like that,� Matz said Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline. “Ultimately, we’re still here, and so I’m just kind of keeping my same mindset as I had all here and just trying to enjoy every day and just be present with where I’m at. That’s all you can do.�

With the four-year deal he inked with the Cardinals ahead of the 2022 season set to expire at the end of this season, Matz’s stability out of the bullpen has made him one of the intriguing bullpen pieces the Cardinals could deal before 5 p.m. central time Thursday. The Cardinals dealt one of their key trade chips before Wednesday’s series finale vs. the Marlins at Busch Stadium. They struck a deal with the Mets that will send closer Ryan Helsley to New York, Post-Dispatch reporter Derrick Goold confirmed.

Matz, 32, entered this season coming off three consecutive seasons limited by injury. A shoulder injury and an MCL injury limited him to 48 innings in 2022, the first year of a $44 million contract with ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½. In 2023, a left lat strain kept the lefty to 105 innings. A lower back strain in 2024 required him to spend 123 days on the injured list and kept him to fewer than 45 innings.

Matz said he entered the year hoping to “just be healthy� and to be an “asset.�

“The past three years, I really wasn’t able to do either of those things,� he said.

How he’s performed in a role new to him has made him a commodity ahead of Major League Baseball’s trading deadline.

In a role new to him, Matz has posted a 3.44 ERA and logged 55 innings in 32 games, 30 of which have come from the bullpen. The former longtime starter has made two starts to give the Cardinals a sixth starter when needed and made three appearances on no days of rest after never having done so in 10 seasons before this season.

“His ability to stay healthy and then show what he’s capable of doing regardless of the role that he’s been placed in,� Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said of Matz. “He bounced back and forth. He’s done some spot starts and gone to the bullpen and thrown multiples. He’s been a one-inning guy, two-inning. He’s done everything we’ve asked, and he’s handled every bit of it extremely.�

Coming off a third consecutive season limited by an injury, Matz said having “another year like that� could mean “you start to think about things.� He said health was a point of emphasis over his previous two offseasons and allowed him to enjoy a successful spring that has translated into a productive season.

He said he’s learned more about his body and gotten a further understanding of what he needs to do to care for it while working as a reliever.

He’s also been able to learn more about what he hopes to do beyond the trade deadline and this season.

“I think ultimately, in my mind, I still would like to start some games in big leagues,� Matz said. “That’s definitely a goal. I feel like I can still do that. I’m happy to do what they need me to do here in those roles. But I think knowing that I can do both now is definitely something to be able to go back to backs and go multiple innings out of the bullpen ... but I think ultimately starting is really kind of where my heart is.�

King placed on IL; Graceffo recalled

The Cardinals placed left-hander John King on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain after he exited early from his ninth-inning appearance Tuesday night. Right-hander Gordon Graceffo was recalled from Class AAA Memphis to fill the lefty’s spot in the bullpen.

King’s injury marks the first time a Cardinals pitcher was placed on the IL since the start of the regular season. The lefty went through pregame workouts on Wednesday. The injury did not appear to be “very severe,� Marmol said, but it would keep him out through the next series.

With Thursday’s trade deadline looming and the potential for the Cardinals to deal relief arms, Marmol said keeping the bullpen an arm short wouldn’t “make sense.�

Gorman, Nootbaar rehab updates

Nolan Gorman (lower back pain) began his rehab stint with Class AA Springfield (Missouri) by going hitless with two strikeouts as the affiliate’s designated hitter. He continued his rehab assignment with a start at second base on Wednesday.

Lars Nootbaar (left costochondral sprain) joined Gorman in Springfield to begin his rehab assignment. Nootbaar was in Springfield’s lineup as its starting right fielder.

Wetherholt continues impressive start

Top Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt continued his strong start to Class AAA with a two-hit, three-RBI showing on Tuesday that began with leadoff in the first inning against Norfolk. Since debuting in Class AAA on July 9, Wetherholt has batted .340 with a .385 on-base percentage and is slugging .787 in 52 plate appearances.

The 22-year-old has five homers, four doubles and has driven in eight runs in 12 games while remaining primarily at shortstop.