Something still isn't right with Matusz

[JTrea81]

An 86-87 mph fastball?

Time to put him back on the DL. The team was better off without him in the rotation.

[waroriole]

Yeah, he's definitely off. Something is off in his head too, if he thinks he should keep "challenging" the reigning NL MVP with an 85 MPH FB up in the zone.

[Remember The Alomar]

Where do we go from here? Norfolk? He started the game at 88-90 and even touched 91. He looked to be right back where he was last year. By the fifth inning the velo on his FB was sitting around 85. At the time of writing this he's given up three home runs and has been completely unable to locate his fastball.

To me it seems like a conditioning issue, but I'm curious what others think. Do you send him back down to Norfolk to build up his arm strength? Let him fight it out up here? Is there an injury that he's hiding?

[Spy Fox]

Hopefully he is just continuing to build his arm strength and get the feel of pitching back. Even though he is struggling I wouldn't want him back on the DL.

I'm not concerned about Matusz long-term... but he definitely doesn't look like the same pitcher we've seen.

[Tony-OH]

All of his stuff is not very good right now. I don't know what his problem is but his velocity and command is way off. All I can say is this is not the guy we were excited about. He's nowhere close to the guy I saw in the minors. I don't know why the baseball Gods hate us so, but hopefully he find out where his arm strength went because it's not there right now.

[Crazysilver03]

Matusz can go join his best friend down in the AAA rotation.

[Can_of_corn]

Maddon was quoted as saying he did not think Matusz was healthy after his last start against the Rays.

[waroriole]

Would anyone be surprised if the Orioles haven't even done any tests to see if his arm is OK?

[ccbird]

As someone who's said give Matusz time after his last few starts I'll now concede that it's time to start worrying.

[O'smagik]

Matusz can go join his best friend down in the AAA rotation.

They both have a few things in common now....both "lost" 3-6 mph off the FB, no command, and cant get thru 5 innings.

[mcneck]

Is it just me or does he look extra thin this year?

[Nolanseye14]

Would anyone be surprised if the Orioles haven't even done any tests to see if his arm is OK?

No. Good point. The orioles are piss poor with handling injuries.

[allstar1579]

All of his stuff is not very good right now. I don't know what his problem is but his velocity and command is way off. All I can say is this is not the guy we were excited about. He's nowhere close to the guy I saw in the minors. I don't know why the baseball Gods hate us so, but hopefully he find out where his arm strength went because it's not there right now.

I'm thinking upper back injury. Something that is sapping his strength but not serious enough to keep him from trying. Where was the original injury in ST? Just below his shoulder blade right? A back takes longer to heal than most people realize, and I'm betting he hurt something more than people were letting on early. I think you're right and time for him and the team to realize it's hurting more than it's helping at this point. They gotta figure out what the root of everything is and get that better. He's not helping anyone next season and beyond.

[nate22]

Is it just me or does he look extra thin this year?

And his pitches look extra fat.

[Meh_Orioles]

We called him up too quick. He needs to spend a few weeks in Norfolk.