Drafted 4th overall in 2008 by the Baltimore Orioles, Matusz (pronounced MATT-iss) made his major league debut for the Orioles on August 4th, 2009. Despite starting Sunday night’s game, Matusz has pitched strictly as a reliever since the 2013 season.
Before he was a reliever though, Matusz pitched as a starter for four seasons with the Orioles, all with less success than one would hope for. Matusz’s ERA was above 4.00 each season from 2009-2012, with hitters batting .280 or better in three of those four seasons.
After pitching to a 5.42 ERA as a starter before the All Star Break in 2012, the Orioles deemed a change was necessary for Matusz.