Former Guardians reliever diagnosed with injury that could have huge impact on Cubs postseason hopes

For three seasons, Phil Maton was a quiet cog in the middle of the Cleveland Guardians’ rotation. 

Although he arrived in Cleveland to little fanfare in the middle of the 2019 season, he ended up pitching 75 1/3 innings across the 2019, 2020 and ‘21 seasons before being traded to the Astros as a part of Cleveland’s trade for Myles Straw. 

That trade ended up being a bit of a boon for both Maton and the Astros, as they were able to move off Straw (who the Guardians immediately signed to a misguided contract extension), while Maton eventually blossomed into a great shutdown reliever for them. 

Even if Maton’s bounced around a bit since he left the Astros following the 2023 season, he’s pitched well everywhere he’s gone, which is one of the biggest reasons why he was able to sign a two-year, $14.5 million contract with the Cubs in the offseason. 

But the first year of that investment hasn’t gone the way either party has wanted, as The Chicago Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro reported earlier this week that Maton has tendinitis in his right knee that could potentially end his season. 

It looks like Phil Maton won't pitch for the Cubs the rest of the season

Maton’s injury is another huge blow to what’s been a disastrous season, as he’s posted a 6.18 ERA in 27 2/3 innings while having three different stints on the injured list. Unsurprisingly, he’s on pace for a career-worst in pretty much every stat, highlighted by an eye-popping 11.8% walk rate. 

That performance is a far cry from Maton’s output prior to heading to Wrigley. Along with having a 3.15 ERA in 191 1/3 innings from 2023 to ‘25, he’s just a year removed from posting a 2.79 ERA while being one of the best arms moved at the trade deadline. 

But he’s mostly been a forgotten man for a Cubs team that’s dealt with a variety of injuries in its bullpen. 

Along with losing Maton, the Cubs have also lost Daniel Palencia, Holby Milner, Riley Martin and Porter Hodge have all spent time on the injured list out of Chicago’s bullpen. 

Those injuries led to them trading for Angels reliever Ryan Zeferjahn at the deadline along with trading for old friend Aaron Civale during July. 

Maton’s signing was a bit out of left field for the Cubs considering Chicago his deal was the first time the Cubs had signed a reliever to a multi-year contract since they signed Craig Kimbrel to a three-year, $43 million deal before the 2019 season. 

Maton may not be the biggest former Guardian kicking around in MLB, but the Cubs signed him to an expensive deal in the hopes he’d be a big postseason performer. It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen in 2026.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow