Is married.....wife's name is Serina.....the couple has six children...Graduated from Washington Union (CA) High School, where he also played football...Attended Fresno State University, where he was named Most Outstanding Pitcher and Second Team All-Western Athletic Conference in 2004 and WAC Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-WAC in 2005...Created "Brush 'Em Back 22" in 2009, a foundation that helps raise money to help fight child abuse.....the Foundation holds baseball clinics at his old high school...His father, Rudy, is a Sergeant Major in the Army and has served a tour of duty in Afghanistan...His younger brother, Michael, coaches high school baseball in Fresno ...Enjoys cartoons, fantasy football and spending time with his kid.
2016
Went 6-8 with a 4.51 ERA in 19 starts...The Brewers went 9-10 in his starts...Produced 7 quality starts, going 4-0 with a 2.49 ERA in those starts (43.1ip, 12er)...Began the season on the 15-day disabled list with a right lat strain after he was injured during his final start of Spring Training on 4/1 at Houston.....transferred to the 60-day DL on 4/28...Was reinstated from the disabled list on 6/14 after making 3 rehab starts at Class-A Wisconsin.
2015
Went 6-14 with a 5.63 ERA in 26 games, including 25 starts…The Brewers went 9-16 in his starts…Produced 10 quality starts, going 4-3 with a 2.37 ERA in those starts (64.2ip, 17er)…Made his only relief appearance of the season (fourth of his career) on 5/31 vs. Arizona and earned a 7-6, 17-inning victory (5ip, 3h, 0r, 2ibb, 1k)…Was on the 15-day disabled list from 7/6-7/20 with right shoulder tendinitis, retroactive to 7/3…Was removed from the starting rotation after his 9/5 start and did not pitch again in 2015.
2014
Signed as a free agent with Milwaukee on 1/26.....signed through the 2017 season with a vesting option for 2018...Went 8-8 with a 3.64 ERA in 27 starts during his first season with the Brewers...The Brewers went 13-14 in his starts...Produced 17 quality starts, going 7-4 with a 2.21 ERA in those starts (118.1ip, 29er)...Opponents batted just .233, which ranked seventh in the National League and represents the sixth-lowest opponent batting average in franchise history for a season (min. 1ip/team game)...Made his Brewers debut on 4/2 vs. Atlanta and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before allowing a 2-out solo homer to Chris Johnson.....took a 1-0 loss (8ip, 2h, 1r, 1er, 1bb, 7k, 1hr)...Was named Brewers Pitcher of the Month for June after going 3-1 with a 2.88 ERA in 6 starts...Tossed a 2-hit shutout in a 1-0 win on 7/5 at Cincinnati (9ip, 2h, 2bb, 9k).....was his 10th career complete game and fourth shutout...Was on the 15-day disabled list from 8/5-8/31 with a left oblique strain, retroactive to 8/4...Was ejected from his start on 9/20 at Pittsburgh after hitting Andrew McCutchen twice
2013
Went 10-6 with a 3.82 ERA in 24 starts between Chicago-NL and Texas...Produced 11 quality starts, going 8-0 with a 1.46 ERA in those starts (80ip, 13er)...From 6/21-7/24 had a career-high 6-game winning streak over 6 starts, posting a 1.23 ERA during this stretch (44ip, 6er)...Began the season on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left latissimus dorsi muscle.....was placed on the disabled list on 3/31, retroactive to 3/22...Was reinstated from the disabled list on 5/21 after rehab starts at Double-A Tennessee (2g) and Triple-A Iowa (2g).....made his season debut on 5/21 at Pittsburgh (ND)...Went 6-1 with a 3.17 ERA in 11 starts with Chicago, including 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA over his last 6 starts, all quality starts (43.2ip, 6er)...Produced 7 quality starts with the Cubs.....the team went 8-3 in his starts...Recorded a season-high 10 strikeouts over 7.0 innings in a 7-2 win on 6/27 at Milwaukee...Was traded to Texas on 7/22 in exchange for INF Mike Olt, RHP C.J. Edwards, RHP Justin Grimm and a player to be named (RHP Neil Ramirez on 8/23)...Went 4-5 with a 4.38 ERA in 13 starts with Texas...Produced 4 quality starts with the Rangers.....the team went 8-5 in his starts...Made his Rangers debut in a 3-1 win on 7/24 vs. New York-AL (7.1ip, 5h, 1r, 0er, 0bb, 5k)...Tossed his only complete game of the season in a 4-2 loss on 8/3 at Oakland.....was his first loss as a Ranger (8ip, 8h, 4r, 4er, 1bb, 5k, 1hr)...Signed as a free agent with Milwaukee on 1/26/14.
2012
Matt went 5-7 with a 3.91 ERA (45 ER/103.2 IP) in 18 starts for Chicago ... missed the last two months of the season with
a stress reaction in his right elbow - was placed on the 15-day disabled list, August 7 (retroactive to July 28), and transferred
to the 60-day D.L., August 21...Went 3-1 with a 2.12 ERA (11 ER/46.2 IP) in seven home starts ... was
2-6 with a 5.37 ERA (34 ER/57.0 IP) in 11 road starts.
...His season ended having gone 18-straight home starts with three or
fewer earned runs allowed dating to June 27, 2011 ... that's the longest
stretch for a Cubs starting pitcher since Kerry Wood went 22-straight
home starts having allowed three or fewer earned runs from 2000-02.
...Has a 1.97 ERA (28 ER/127.2 IP) in his last 18 home starts.
...The Cubs scored three or fewer runs while he was on the mound in 13
of his 18 starts.
...Held the opponent to a .236 batting average (90-for-382), including a
.224 mark (43-for-192) by right-handed hitters.
...Struck out 96 batters in 103.2 innings of work ... walked just 32.
...Recorded a career-high five-game winning streak dating to 2011 thanks
to his first victory of the season, April 12 vs. Milwaukee, in which he
tossed 8.2 shutout innings before he was pulled following 119 pitches.
...Committed three errors and logged an .842 fielding percentage (19 TC).
...Was 2-1 with a 2.67 ERA (10 ER/33.2 IP) in five April starts, but was
0-2 with a 6.86 ERA (15 ER/19.2 IP) in four May outings.
...Recorded quality starts in his first two outings to begin a campaign for
the first time since 2010, when he began with three-straight quality
efforts for Tampa Bay.
...Struck out 10 Phillies, April 29 in Philadelphia ... was his 10th career
double-digit strikeout effort.
...Earned his first win of the season, April 12 vs. the Brewers, tossing 8.2
shutout innings in the 8-0 victory ... allowed just three hits and two
walks while striking out nine.
...Tossed 7.0 innings of shutout baseball in Philadelphia, April 29, as the
Cubs topped the Phillies, 5-1 ... allowed one hit and one walk while
fanning 10.
...Punched out 10 in a game for the 10th time in his career.
...Left July 21's start in St. Louis after 3.0 scoreless innings due to a stress
reaction in his right elbow.
2011
In his first season with Chicago, Matt went 10-10 with a 3.32 ERA (73 ER/198.0 IP), 197 strikeouts and 63 walks in 31 starts...he was sidelined, May 18-June 6, with a right elbow bone contusion...Recorded his third-career 10-win campaign including his secondstraight...Threw two complete games: a 1-0 setback, July 2 vs. the White Sox and
a 7-1 win, September 21 vs. Milwaukee...His 8.95 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched ranked seventh in the Senior
Circuit and 10th among major league pitchers...Left with the lead but did not factor in the decision seven times...allowed three runs in three starts (21.0 IP), July 14-24, receiving
no-decisions in all three games...Allowed 17 unearned runs, tied for third-most in the majors...Boasted a 2.45 ERA (28 ER/103.0 IP) in 15 starts following the Mid-
Summer Classic, the seventh-best ERA among starting pitchers in the
majors...posted a 4.26 ERA (45 ER/95.0 IP) in 16 starts prior to the
All-Star break...Finished the season riding a career-high tying four-game winning streak...went 4-0 with a 2.14 ERA (11 ER/46.1 IP) in his final six starts,
dating to August 30...Allowed 14 home runs in 198.0 innings pitched, good for an average of
0.64 home runs per 9.0 innings pitched...that ranked eighth-best in
the N.L. and 10th in the majors (min. 190.0 IP)...Went 6-5 with a 3.07 ERA (39 ER/114.1 IP) when pitching on four days
rest (18 starts)...was 4-5 with a 3.66 ERA (34 ER/83.2 IP) with five or
more days rest (13 starts)...Went 4-5 with a 4.56 ERA (32 ER/81.0 IP) in 14 road starts, including
a 3-0 mark with a 2.48 ERA (9 ER/32.2 IP) in his final five road outings...Produced a 2.46 ERA (32 ER/117.0 IP) with a 6-5 record in 17 starts
at Wrigley Field...went 6-3 with a 2.25 ERA (23 ER/92.0 IP) in his last
13 home starts since May 11, including a 1.67 ERA (7 ER/37.2 IP) in
his last five...Went 9-6 with a 2.46 ERA (44 ER/160.2 IP) when tossing 6.0 or more
innings (23 starts)...went 7-1 with a 1.87 ERA (22 ER/106.0 IP) when
tossing 7.0 or more frames (14 starts)...Fanned a career-high 12 batters in his Cubs debut, April 3 vs. Pittsburgh...the 12 strikeouts were the most all-time in a Cubs debut, eclipsing
the previous mark of 10 (done four times, last by Thomas Diamond in
2010)...Went 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA (6 ER/21.1 IP), 17 strikeouts, three walks
and a .176 average against (13-for-74) in his three starts (one complete
game), June 21-July 2...Was unbeaten in five September starts, going 3-0 with a monthly-best
2.04 ERA (9 ER/39.2 IP), 34 strikeouts, nine walks and a .211 average
against...Earned his first win as a Cub in Chicago's 5-3 victory, April 30 in Arizona...tossed 8.0 innings of three-run, six-hit ball, while walking two and
fanning 10.
2010
In his final season with the Rays, Matt set career marks with 15 victories and 204.2 innings pitched ... he threw the first nohitter
in franchise annals, July 26 vs. Detroit ... the 15 wins were second-most in franchise history (David Price, 19 in 2010).
... His 15 victories were tied for 10th in the A.L.
... Held opponents to a .197 batting average with runners in scoring
position, fourth-lowest in the A.L.
... Allowed 28 homers, fourth-most in the A.L ... threw 12 wild pitches, tied for
fifth-most in the AL.
... Did not allow a run in the first inning in 17-straight starts from June 24-
September 25 ... was the second-longest streak of its kind in 2010,
trailing only San Diego's Mat Latos (22 starts).
... Recorded seven starts of at least 8.0 innings pitched while allowing two
runs or less, tied for sixth-most in the AL.
... Began the season 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA (2 ER/24.0 IP) in his first three
starts ... became the first hurler to begin a season with three starts of at
least 8.0 innings having allowed one earned run or less since Curt Schilling
in 1998.
w Was the first A.L. pitcher to turn the trick since eventual Cy Young
winner, Roger Clemens, in 1991.
... Was the fastest in Rays history to reach five wins, May 5 at Seattle (27th
team game).
... His three complete games ranked tied for eighth in the A.L. ... besides the
no-hitter, had two 8.0-inning complete game losses (May 21 at Houston
and August 6 at Toronto).
... On July 7 vs. Boston, recorded his first career save, two days after a 3.0-
inning start vs. the Red Sox.
... Endured the shortest start of his career, June 18 at Florida, going 1.1
innings (seven runs allowed).
... Named A.L. co-Player of the Week, July 26-August 1, the week of his
no-hitter.
w The no-hitter began a stretch in which he went 4-2 with a 1.59
ERA (10 ER/56.2 IP) in eight starts through September 3.
... Went 4-1 in April, tying Andy Sonnanstine (2008) for most wins in April in
Rays history.
... August 22 at Oakland, beat Dallas Braden, 3-2 ... just the second time in
19 years two pitchers faced each other after throwing no-hitters earlier in
the year.
w Prior to the July 28 matchup of Philadelphia's Roy Halladay and
Arizona's Edwin Jackson, had previously happened September 6,
1991, when the White Sox Wilson Alvarez faced Texas' Nolan
Ryan.
... Made a NLDS Game Three start against the Rangers and received a nodecision
despite holding Texas to one run in 6.0 innings in an evental 6-3
Tampa Bay victory.
2009
Twenty-five-year-old set career bests in starts
(32), innings pitched (203) and strikeouts
(189)...also established career highs with 79
walks and 25 home runs allowed.
...His 189 strikeouts were 9th in the AL and 2nd
most in club history behind Scott Kazmir's 239
in 2007...tied for 5th in the AL with 8.4 strikeouts
per 9 innings.
...Reached the 200-inning mark for the first time
in his career...joined James Shields as the
second pair of Rays starters to log that many
frames in one season (also Shields and Scott
Kazmir in 2007)...went 6 or more innings 21
times, and 7 or more innings 15 times.
...Held opponents to a .233 avg., 4th best in the
American League...held left-handed hitters
to a .196 avg., the lowest of any right-handed
starter in the majors...in fact, this was the lowest
of any RH starter (min. 400 BF) since SF Jason
Schmidt (.191) in 2004 and by an AL righty
since BOS Pedro Martinez (.150) in 2000.
...Averaged 106.9 pitches per game, tied for 4th
most in the majors...was responsible for 10 of
the 12 highest pitch counts by a Rays pitcher
on the season (120-4x, 118, 117-2x, 116-3x).
...Led the staff with 19 quality starts, but the
Rays went 15-17 in his 32 starts.
...Received the lowest run support in the AL at
3.68 runs per 9 innings, despite the Rays ranking
7th in the majors in runs scored.
Of the 17 AL starters with ... an ERA under 4.00,
he was the only one with a losing record...of
the 42 in the majors with an ERA under 4.00,
only Garza and WAS John Lannan (9-13, 3.88)
had losing records.
...Allowed 3 earned runs or less in 23 starts, including
21 of his last 28.
...Tied TOR Ricky Romero for 2nd-most walks in
AL behind NYY A.J. Burnett (97)...hit 11 batters,
tied for 2nd most in the AL.
...Was 6-3 against the AL East in 2009 with a
2.35 ERA (111-IP, 29-ER)...went 2-9, 5.97 (92-
IP, 61-ER) against everyone else...lifetime is
18-9, 2.77 (243.1-IP, 75-ER) against the East
and 9-25, 5.09 vs. everyone else including
2-15 against the AL Central.
...Picked up his 7th win on July 24 at TOR, 4-2
over Roy Halladay in 10 innings...pitched a
season-high 9 innings...Evan Longoria broke
a 2-2 tie with a 2-run double in the top of the
10th...matchup marked just the 2nd time in
the last 9 seasons both starting pitchers went
9 or more innings and struck out 9 or more
(Halladay and Randy Johnson did it April 29,
2005 at Yankee Stadium).
...After that start, won only one more game the
rest of the season (12 starts)...his 4-0 combined
shutout Sep 19 vs. TOR ended a careerlong
winless streak of 9 starts...matched his
season high with 10 strikeouts in the game and
also walked a career-high 6.
Went 3-1 vs. Toronto with a 1.27 ERA (28.1-IP,
4-ER)...as a Ray is 6-2 with a 0.92 ERA vs. Toronto
(66.1-IP, 48-H, 6-R/ER, 19-BB, 54-SO)...
further, has surrendered just one earned run
in 4 starts at Tropicana Field (27.2-IP), a 0.33
ERA...his overall career 1.70 ERA (69-IP, 13-
ER) is the lowest all time against the Jays.
...Won his season debut April 9 at BOS, 4-3 over
Daisuke Matsuzaka...gave the Rays their first
season-opening series win since 2002 and consecutive
regular season series victories at Fenway
Park (after going 25 straight without one).
...The next time he faced Boston, April 30 at
home, he tossed 6 perfect innings until Jacoby
Ellsbury's infield single to lead off the 7th...was
the longest bid for a perfect game in Rays history,
and set a club record by retiring 18 batters
in order...tied for the 3rd-longest no-hit
bid in club history...struck out a season-high
10 and walked only 1...Rays won it 13-0 and
he and Grant Balfour combined on a 1-hitter.
...Is the Rays all-time leader (min. 300 IP) with a
3.83 ERA and .238 opp avg.
2008
Twenty-four-year-old spent his first full season
in the majors after being acquired November
28, 2007 from the Twins along with Jason Bartlett
in a trade involving Delmon Young...with
Scott Kazmir on the disabled list, he began the
year as the Rays No. 2 starter behind James
Shields and made his first Opening Day roster...
went 11-9 with a 3.70 ERA over 30 starts,
despite spending 16 games on the DL with radial
nerve irritation in April.
Garza and James Shields were the only 2
pitchers in MLB to throw 2 complete games
allowing 2 hits or less in 2008.
Held opponents to a .245 mark, ranking 9th
among AL pitchers and tops among qualifying
Rays starters.
Went 7-4 against the AL East with a 2.54 ERA
(95.2-IP, 27-ER) in 15 starts...included was a
3-2 record with a 0.47 ERA (38.0-IP, 2-ER) in
5 starts against the Blue Jays...only BOS Jon
Lester (2.48) had a lower ERA against the AL
East in 2008.
Hurled 2 shutouts, tying the club record, and
tied with several others for the AL lead...only 2
ML pitchers had more shutouts: CLE/MIL CC
Sabathia (5) and MIL Ben Sheets (3).
Threw 3 CG, which ranked tied for 3rd in the
AL...included was a 1-hitter and a 2-hit shutout...
Rays had 7 CG as a team, as Shields also
tossed 3 and Sonnanstine the other...only 4
major league pitchers had more CG: CLE/MIL
CC Sabathia (10), TOR Roy Halladay (9), MIL
Ben Sheets (5) and CLE Cliff Lee (4).
Went 4-1 in May with a 2.52 ERA (39.1-IP, 11-
ER) in 6 starts...the 4 wins would have tied a
club record for most in any single month, but
Kazmir notched 5 wins that same month to set
a new club mark.
On June 26 at FLA, tossed his first career
complete game, a one-hitter...9.0-IP, 1-H,
1-R/ER, 1-BB, 10-SO...until Hanley Ramirez's
leadoff HR in the 7th, he had allowed no hits
and faced the minimum 18 batters...faced 28
batters, tying Shields' club record for fewest
BF in a 9-inning CG effort (May 9 vs. LAA)...10
SO matched his season high (May 28 vs. TEX),
matched the club's season high, and fell one
shy of his career-high 11 (July 29, 2007 at CLE
while with MIN).
Hurled both his shutouts in a span of 4 starts...
the first came July 29 at TOR a 3-0 win over
Roy Halladay as he totaled 9.0-IP, 5-H, 1-BB,
5-SO...was his 2nd win over Halladay, the first
coming 10 days prior, July 19 at home...became
the 4th pitcher to beat Halladay twice in
a season, joining BOS Pedro Martinez (2004),
BAL Pat Rapp (2000) and BOS Tim Wakefield
(2007)...the only others to beat Halladay even
twice in a career were NYY Roger Clemens
and TEX Vicente Padilla.
Fired a complete-game, two-hit shutout
Aug 15 at TEX to defeat Kevin Millwood...
struck out 9, walked 2, and threw a career-high
119 pitches (78 strikes)...Rays won 7-0.
Started the home opener on April 8 vs. Seattle
and Erik Bedard...left that game with
radial nerve irritation in the 3rd inning (trailing
3-1)...placed on the DL April 9-25, missing 16
games.
His control improved throughout the year...allowed
2.50 BB/9 IP (39-BB, 140.1-IP) over his
final 22 starts from May 28 on...issued 4.06
BB/9 IP over his first 8 starts (20-BB, 44.2-IP).
Went 7-3 at home with a 2.89 ERA (93.1-IP, 30-
ER), which ranked 8th in the AL...on the road
was 4-6 with a 4.53 ERA (91.1-IP, 46-ER).
Compiled a 3.37 ERA in 19 starts after his early
exit on June 8 at TEX: 7-6, 123.0-IP, 109-H, 50-
R, 46-ER, 34-BB, 94-SO, .240 opp avg.
Went winless over his last 5 starts, all coming
in September (0-2, 4.73 ERA)...received an
average of 3.13 runs per start in run support,
lowest among his rotationmates.
Allowed just 2-ER in 38-IP (0.47 ERA) in 5
starts against the Blue Jays...compiled a
scoreless streak of 25.1-IP vs. the Jays spanning
4 starts (July 19-Sep 7)...that's the longest
single-season scoreless streak against
one club in club history.
Exchanged 1-0 decisions with TOR David
Purcey 12 days apart, on Aug 27 (Garza won)
and Sep 7 (Purcey won)...the last time two
starters traded 1-0 games was 1976, when
MIL Bill Travers and NYY Dock Ellis did it.
Beat Boston and Tim Wakefield, 3-1 at home
on July 1, the middle game of a 3-game
sweep...7.0-IP, 4-H, 1-R, 0-ER, 0-BB, 3-SO...
retired the first 9 men in order and 14 of the
first 15.
Started Sep 17 vs. BOS on three days' rest for
the first time in his career (4.2-IP, 5-H, 3-R/
ER), receiving no decision in the 10-3 win...
it was the first time a Rays starter pitched on
less than four days rest in more than three
years - since Mark Hendrickson in July 2005.
Allowed one run or fewer 11 times.
Career is 12-6 with a 3.13 ERA against the AL
East...7-16, 4.66 against the rest of baseball...
career 3.13 ERA vs. the East is 3rd among all
active pitchers (min. 20 starts), trailing NYM
Pedro Martinez and TOR A.J. Burnett.
Underwent right foot surgery on Oct 31 to remove
a small piece of bone from an old fracture
on the outside of the foot.
2007
Began season at Triple-A Rochester...was 1-1, 2.88 (25.0 ip, 8 er) in first four starts, April 7-May 2...tossed 6-plus innings in nine consecutive starts, May 12-June 21...was 1-2, 1.35 (20.0 ip, 3 er) in three starts, May 22-June 1...recalled June 29...made his first appearance and only relief appearance, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings, July 2 at New York (AL)...made his first start and earned his first win, July 6 at Chicago and tossed 6.0 shutout innings...did not allow a run in his first three appearances (15.0 ip)...struck out a career-high 11 batters in 6.0 innings, July 29 at Cleveland...allowed seven runs on nine hits and lasted just 2.1 innings (his shortest start of the season), August 14 at Seattle...earned first career win at home, snapping a streak of 10 consecutive losses at the Metrodome, September 19 vs. Texas...pitched 6-plus innings in six of 15 starts and 7-plus innings in two starts...had six quality starts.
2006
Started the season at Single-A Fort Myers...won his first five decisions from April 6-May 8, including an 8.0 inning four hit, nine strikeout
win May 8...named the Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the month for April posting a 3-0 record with 0.74 ERA (24.1 ip, 2 er)...earned a promotion
to Double-A New Britain May 18 and pitched 7.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out a season-high 13 batters...named Eastern
League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending May 21...earned wins in his first three decisions from May 18-28...allowed just one earned run
in three starts (18.0 ip) from June 4-15...pitched 8.0 shutout innings in back-to-back starts June 30 and July 5...over the two starts he struck
out 16 and walked just one...promoted to Triple-A Rochester July 15 and suffered the loss that night as he went 7.0 innings allowing three runs
on five hits...won his next three decisions (four starts) from July 20-August 8 and posted a 1.33 ERA (27.0 ip, 4 er)...made his Major League
debut August 11 vs. Toronto, lasted 2.2 innings allowing seven runs on eight hits...he became the fourth fastest player to reach the Majors in
Twins history...picked up his first Major League victory on August 23 at Baltimore as he pitched 6.0 innings without allowing an earned run...
won in back-to-back starts September 19-24...won Jim Rantz Award as Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year...named USA Today Minor League
Player of the Year, becoming the second Twins player in as many years to be named (Francisco Liriano, 2005)...the Twins become just the second
franchise since the awards inception in 1988, to win the award in two consecutive seasons joining the Atlanta Braves (Andruw Jones in '95 &
'96)...rated Best Prospect in Twins Organization, Second Best Prospect in Eastern League, Best Control in Double-A and Best Breaking Pitch in Florida STate League by
Baseball America.
2005
Transferred from Elizabethton to Beloit July 12...ranked 10th best prospect in Midwest League by
Baseball America.
