51ºÚÁÏ

After starting off in the bullpen, Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz moves to the starting rotation Wednesday for the rubber game of a three-game set vs. Houston at Busch Stadium.

Wednesday's game begins at 12:15 p.m. at Busch Stadium. 51ºÚÁÏ fell 2-0 on Tuesday after an 8-3 win Monday.

The Cardinals are in the middle of a stretch of 13 straight games without an off day, necessitating the role change by the left-hander Matz (0-0, 2.31), which gives the Cardinals a six-man rotation.

He will be limited to about 65 pitches on Wednesday.

Matz slots into a Cardinals rotation that has been at the top of its game.

In the past seven games, Cardinals starters have put up a 1.07 ERA and gone an average of six innings per start. Before that surge began, Cardinals starters had an MLB-worst 6.18 ERA.

Matz has been solid out of the bullpen so far this season, and that followed a strong spring that included a 2.29 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 19 2/3 innings.

He's allowing just 7.5% of the batted balls against him to be pulled in the air, which is about 10 percentage points less than last season and would be a career best.

Historically, though, Matz has struggled with both injuries and effectiveness. In 34 previous starts with the Cardinals from the time he joined the club in 2022, Matz has a 4.88 ERA.

The Astros counter with 31-year-old Dominican righty Ronel Blanco (1-1, 6.94), who will also be making his first start of the season. Despite the poor numbers early this season, Blanco was a valuable swingman for the Astros last season, and he was equally effective vs. righties and lefties.

The Cardinals and Astros are both 8-9.

Transaction: Roddery Munoz down, Matt Svanson up

The Cardinals optioned right-hander Roddery Munoz to Triple-A Memphis after Tuesday night's game and called up right-hander Matt Svanson from Memphis.

Munoz (0-0, 10.13) appeared in three games since he was called up Friday.

Svanson has a 1.59 ERA in four appearances at Memphis this year. He was acquired in 2023 from Toronto as part of the trade that sent Paul DeJong out.

The 26-year-old went 27 for 27 on save attempts, posted a 2.69 ERA and struck out 59 batters in 63â…” innings with Class AA Springfield (Missouri) last year.

Lineups

CARDINALS

1. Lars Nootbaar (L) LF
2. Willson Contreras (R) DH
3. Brendan Donovan (L) 2B
4. Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
5. Alec Burleson (L) 1B
6. Jordan Walker (R) RF
7. Yohel Pozo (R) C
8. Victor Scott II (L) CF
9. Thomas Saggese (R) SS

P: Steven Matz, LHP

ASTROS

1. Jose Altuve (R) DH
2. Jeremy Peña (R) SS
3. Isaac Paredes (R) 3B
4. Christian Walker (R) 1B
5. Yainer Diaz (R) C
6. Brendan Rodgers (R) 2B
7. Jake Meyers (R) CF
8. Cam Smith (R) RF
9. Chas McCormick (R) LF

P: Ronel Blanco, RHP

Injury report

Masyn Winn, SS (back spasms): Played catch with teammate Ivan Herrera on Tuesday as he began light baseball activities, his first on the field actions since lower back spasms ejected him from a game earlier in the home stand. Placed on the 10-day injured list due to lower back spasms experienced April 11. Updated April 15

Ivan Herrera, C (bone bruise): Began light baseball activities Tuesday by playing catch with teammate Winn. Herrera has been able to work out in the weight room and is making strides toward more intense drills and hitting. He was given time to rest to avoid making the injury worse, and there will be an  element of tolerance as he increases his activity. Updated April 15

Zack Thompson, LHP (lat strain): Remained in Jupiter, Florida, to begin a throwing program after a month of limited activity and no throwing. Thompson went through multiple checkups and scans to monitor the healing of a tear in his lat on the left side, and they did not show any setback to delayed Thompson's scheduled move to the injured list. On April 7, Thompson was transferred to the 60-day IL. Updated April 7