Former Cub Brian Matusz Passes Away at 37
Former big league pitcher Brian Matusz passed away Tuesday at the age of 37, as first reported by MASN’s Roch Kubatko. Matusz pitched almost exclusively for the Orioles and made only one appearance for the Cubs, but it was one of the most memorable games of a 2016 season that was filled with them. After being traded to the Braves and subsequently DFA’d in May of that year, the Cubs signed Matusz to a minors deal on June 15 and called him up to start against the Mariners on July 31.
Our hearts are heavy tonight as we mourn the passing of former Oriole, Brian Matusz.
A staple in our clubhouse from 2009-2016, Brian was beloved throughout Birdland, and his passion for baseball and our community was unmatched. He dedicated his time to connecting with any fan he… pic.twitter.com/wNN3WkO8l4
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) January 8, 2025
No one was expecting much from the emergency start, but the Cubs really needed a spark after seeing what had been an 11-game division lead to start the month whittled to 6.5 thanks to an 11-14 stretch. Matusz lasted only three innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits, three of which were homers, and exited with his team trailing by half a dozen runs. The Cubs chipped away as the bullpen held the Mariners in check, getting a little help from an uncharacteristically wild Félix Hernández.
A pair of runs in the 5th inning were followed by one more in the 7th and a three-spot in the bottom of the 9th to tie it. Interestingly enough, that late rally came against future/former Cubs relief stalwart Steve Cishek. After the teams traded goose eggs for two innings, Héctor Rondón tossed a stress-free 12th to set up an iconic walk-off victory.
Jason Heyward led off with a double and advanced to third on a sac fly from Willson Contreras, at which point manager Joe Maddon looked to his bench for the kind of lefty slugger the Cubs only wish they still had. David Ross must have learned something that night because Maddon made the nigh-unthinkable decision to have his bopper lay down a bunt. And so Jon Lester dug in and did just that.
Heyward hustled home and the Cubs capped an incredible comeback to cure the cement on their status as World Series favorites. That win began a streak of 11 in a row — three of which were walk-offs — that pushed their division lead up to 14, their largest of the season to that point. August would see the Cubs rattle off a 22-6 record that included sweeps of the Marlins, A’s, Angels, Brewers, Padres, and Pirates. They were a juggernaut and life was good.
Matusz may have been just a footnote to the greatest baseball season any of us have ever borne witness to, but that abbreviated start earned him a World Series ring. It was also the final MLB appearance of his career, as he was DFA’d the following day and spent the next three years between the minors, Mexico, and independent ball. He’ll forever be remembered by Cubs fans for that lone outing, but he was also a genuinely good dude who will be missed by those who knew him.
CI would like to extend our deepest condolences to Matusz’s family and friends. Godspeed and rest in peace.