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Player Outlook
Quinn Mathews was a workhorse at Stanford, but he only averaged 91.6 mph with his fastball as a junior and was selected by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. He showed up in 2024 sitting in the mid-90s (touching 98 mph) with above-average ride on that pitch and was arguably the top breakout pitching prospect of the year. The 6-foot-5 lefty logged a 2.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and a 202:49 K:BB in 143.1 innings across 26 starts, beginning the year at Single-A and finishing the year at Triple-A. In addition to his massively improved fastball, Mathews boasts a borderline plus-plus changeup and a comfortably above-average slider. He struggled in a small sample at Triple-A, with two five-walk starts bringing down his numbers at that level as he adjusted to the balls and strikes challenge system. Even so, he should be given every opportunity to win a spot in the big-league rotation this spring, and he will spend the bulk of his age-24 season in the majors, barring injury or a significant skills decline.

Fantasy News

  • Cardinals' Quinn Mathews: Misses out on Opening Day rotation

    The Cardinals reassigned Mathews to minor-league camp Sunday. Though Mathews is regarded as one of St. Louis' top pitching prospects, he was always facing an uphill battle to win a spot in the Opening Day rotation after having made just four starts above the Double-A level. The 24-year-old southpaw should still make his MLB debut at some point in 2025, but for now, the Cardinals will send him to minor-league camp to open up more innings in Grapefruit League play for other rotation candidates. He'll continue to stay in a starter's schedule at minor-league camp, with Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com noting that Mathews will cover three innings Sunday in a game on the back fields.
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  • Cardinals' Quinn Mathews: Dazzles in spring debut

    Mathews fanned three batters while allowing two hits and one walk over two scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays. The reigning minor-league strikeout leader set down Vladimir Guerrero swinging in a perfect first inning before adding a pair of strikeouts in the second to escape a bases-loaded jam. Mathews has an outside shot to win a spot in the Cardinals' rotation if he wows this spring, but he's most likely pegged for Triple-A Memphis. Even if he doesn't break camp with the big club, he's a good bet to spend a good chunk of 2025 in the St. Louis rotation.
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  • Cardinals' Quinn Mathews: Promoted to Double-A

    The Cardinals promoted Mathews from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield on Monday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Mathews is one of the biggest risers among pitching prospects this season, having dominated at both Single-A Palm Beach and Peoria, collecting a 2.18 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 110:20 K:BB over 74.1 innings in 13 starts between the two stops. His 110 punchouts lead all minor leaguers. Mathews was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft and didn't pitch in pro ball last season after throwing 124.2 innings in the spring as a senior at Stanford. He has elevated his standing in 2024 by showing a velocity spike.
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