JUPITER, Fla. — What might’ve seemed like an unorthodox starting point for Cardinals left-handers Steven Matz and Jordan Montgomery actually served as the latest step in a return to familiar patterns.
Matz and Montgomery, two-fifths of the club’s projected starting pitching rotation, made their first “starts” of the spring season on a back field at the club’s spring training complex on Tuesday.
Right-hander Jack Flaherty tossed his first outing in the same fashion on Monday morning.
Instead of taking the mound to face another’s club at Roger Dean Stadium or one of the other Grapefruit League ballparks, they pitched on a practice field to hitters from their own organization.