Report: Cubs release Brian Matusz |
The Cubs have released pitcher Brian Matusz on Monday according to a report by the Chicago Tribune.
Matusz allowed a disappointing six runs, six hits, two walks, a hit-by-pitch in three innings in his first start with the Cubs on Sunday night. The six runs included three two-run homers by Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano and Dae-Ho Lee. The 29-year-old Matusz is 27-41 with a 4.85 ERA (283 ER/525.2 IP) in 279 major league appearances, 68 as a starter, covering the last eight seasons with the Baltimore Orioles (2009-16). He made 68-straight starts to begin his major league career before converting to a reliever midway through the 2012 campaign, going 6-8 with a 3.47 ERA (66 ER/171.0 IP) in 211 relief outings since the conversion. In his career, he has limited left-handed hitters to a .211 batting average and .269 on-base percentage. Matusz began the 2016 campaign with the Orioles but was traded to Atlanta on May 23, designated for assignment the next day and released on June 1. He signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs on June 15. Matusz made five minor league appearances (four starts) for the Cubs and posted no record with a 1.53 ERA (3 ER/17.2 IP), including no record and a 1.93 ERA (2 ER/9.1 IP) in two starts with Triple-A Iowa.
