Matt Bush

Matt Bush

37-Year-Old PitcherRP
Milwaukee Brewers
15-Day IL
Injury Shoulder
Est. Return 6/16/2023
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Bush recorded the Rangers' first save of 2022, but tallied just three all season as he wound up in a flexible role between Texas and Milwaukee. The 36-year-old pitched in a career-high 65 games, serving as an opener six times while also factoring into the late innings with 18 holds. He tallied a career-high 74 strikeouts across 59.2 innings to post a 30% strikeout rate for the first time in his career. The right-hander's velocity returned, as he averaged 97.3 mph on his 4-seam fastball, which was 2.2 mph jump from 2021. He also ditched his slider, relying on a curveball and cutter as his secondaries. Bush figures to be part of the Brewers' late-inning equation again in 2023 and may even be next in line for saves behind Devin Williams. He's a solid target in leagues that count holds. Read Past Outlooks
RANKSFrom Preseason
#575
ADP
$Signed a one-year, $1.85 million contract with the Brewers in November of 2022.
Ready for rehab assignment
PMilwaukee Brewers
Shoulder
June 4, 2023
Bush (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
ANALYSIS
Because Bush has been on the shelf since April 24 with right rotator cuff tendinitis, he'll likely need to build back up over the course of multiple rehab appearances in the minors before being deemed ready to rejoin the Milwaukee bullpen. Prior to being shut down with the injury, Bush logged an 8.22 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 7.2 innings with Milwaukee.
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Pitching Stats
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2023
2022
2021
2018
2017
2023 MLB Game Log
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2022 MLB Game Log
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2021 MLB Game Log
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2018 MLB Game Log
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2017 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
17
Last 10 Games
17
Last 5 Games
16
How many pitches does Matt Bush generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Matt Bush generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2021
 
 
-10%
BAA vs LHP
2023
 
 
-18%
BAA vs LHP
2022
 
 
-3%
BAA vs RHP
2021
 
 
-100%
BAA vs LHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2021vs Left .188 115 35 16 18 1 0 7
Since 2021vs Right .208 181 52 9 35 4 0 11
2023vs Left .182 15 4 4 2 0 0 2
2023vs Right .222 20 4 2 4 1 0 2
2022vs Left .200 94 28 11 16 1 0 5
2022vs Right .194 150 46 7 27 3 0 6
2021vs Left .000 6 3 1 0 0 0 0
2021vs Right .364 11 2 0 4 0 0 3
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2021
 
 
-6%
ERA on Road
2023
 
 
-52%
ERA on Road
2022
 
 
-2%
ERA at Home
2021
 
 
-33%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2021Home 4.28 1.10 40.0 0 2 1 11.0 3.2 2.9
Since 2021Away 4.02 1.09 31.1 2 2 3 10.9 3.2 1.4
2023Home 12.00 3.00 3.0 0 1 0 6.0 15.0 6.0
2023Away 5.79 0.64 4.2 0 0 1 11.6 1.9 3.9
2022Home 3.44 0.94 34.0 0 1 1 11.6 2.4 2.4
2022Away 3.51 1.13 25.2 2 2 2 10.5 3.2 0.7
2021Home 6.00 1.00 3.0 0 0 0 9.0 0.0 6.0
2021Away 9.00 2.00 1.0 0 0 0 18.0 9.0 9.0
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Matt Bush compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
1.33
 
K/9
9.4
 
BB/9
7.0
 
HR/9
4.7
 
Fastball
94.3 mph
 
ERA
8.22
 
WHIP
1.57
 
BABIP
.128
 
GB/FB
0.63
 
Left On Base
78.1%
 
Exit Velocity
84.1 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
12.5%
 
Spin Rate
2430 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
25.0%
 
Swinging Strike
11.6%
 
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2019
2018
2017
2012
2006
2005
2004
Bush will reportedly enter the year in the mix for saves in the Rangers' bullpen. The 36-year-old righty has a career 3.45 ERA, but his ERA has steadily climbed in each of his four MLB seasons. He sits in the mid-90s with his fastball but does not generate a high amount of groundballs (career 40.5 GB%). Additionally, he has just 11 career saves, so Greg Holland and Joe Barlow have the experience edge and Spencer Patton has him beat in terms of recent track record. Bush would need to be added to the 40-man roster, which could be a factor when deciding which player becomes the closer.
Bush debuted in the majors as a pitcher with Texas in 2016, more than a decade after he was drafted as a shortstop with the No. 1 overall pick by San Diego. He finished with a sparkling 2.48 ERA and 0.94 WHIP that season and looked primed to make good after a long, troubled road that included a three-year prison sentence for driving under the influence with serious bodily injury. His encore to 2016 was a disappointment as Bush lost the closer role and ultimately underwent surgery to repair the AC joint in his right shoulder. He continued to struggle to begin 2018 before being shut down with an elbow strain. After a few failed attempts to ramp back up, Bush was diagnosed with a partially torn UCL. While he did not have Tommy John surgery, he did undergo a surgical procedure to treat the issue and is expected to miss the first half of 2019 as a result. Bush will need to reestablish himself yet again before we can entertain him as a fantasy option.
A popular closer-in-waiting heading into 2017, Bush took over the ninth inning less than a month into the season, but his campaign was derailed by shoulder and knee issues. The shoulder was something the Rangers had to manage throughout the year -- he was first treated with a cortisone injection just 10 days into the campaign -- and arthroscopic surgery was ultimately deemed necessary to repair the AC joint. His knee was injured in a collision with teammate Joey Gallo in August. The 2004 No. 1 overall pick threw with impressive velocity despite the shoulder problems. The Rangers plan to give Bush a look in a starting role in the spring and perhaps an assignment to the rotation would give Bush a quicker path to return to fantasy prominence after losing the closer job, but we'd feel much better about his chances of staying healthy if he were to remain in the bullpen.
The No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft resurfaced as a relief pitcher in 2016 and delivered stellar numbers, including an 8.9 K/9 and a 2.0 BB/9. Those are closer-like peripherals, and Bush flashed them most of the time in high-leverage spots. The demise of Shawn Tolleson opened the door for Bush, who clocked in with a 97.0 mph average on his four-seam fastball. Sam Dyson built up a decent leash on the closer role, but Bush probably ranks only behind Jeremy Jeffress on the depth chart for save speculation. Bush's ratios and strikeout potential can improve any deep fantasy club's pitching staff, and he's a gem in holds leagues. Adding closer opportunities to his skills could make the 31-year-old a highly valuable asset in all formats.
After signing a minor league deal with the Rays, Bush appeared in 36 games at Double-A Montgomery posting a 4.83 ERA with a 1.437 WHIP. The former No. 1 overall pick from the 2004 draft has seen his once promising career derailed by an elbow injury along with off-field issues. Now 25, he possesses little upside although his 77 strikeouts in 50.1 innings is likely enough for him to catch on with another club if the Rays don't re-sign him.
Bush struggled at Single-A in 2005, showing no power, weak on-base skills, less speed than expected and even erratic defense. That isn't what you want from a first-round pick, let alone the first overall pick in the 2004 draft. Bush is young enough to rebound, but right now the risk of this pick being a complete bust is fairly high. There are even rumors that he might be converted to pitcher if his bat doesn't come around.
The Padres made the young shortstop the first pick in the 2004 draft because he was signable at an inexpensive price and a native of the San Diego area. The local boy makes good marketing angle blew up in their face after an incident in an Arizona nightclub had him facing misdemeanor charges, and his performance subsequent to a team suspension didn't wow anybody. The 19-year-old is too young to be considered a bust, but suffice to say there were better, albeit more expensive, options in the entry draft.
Bush projects as a quality defender with a powerful arm. Solid defensively, his bat is more of a concern as he could be a .290 hitter as a major leaguer, but scouts say his power will be limited to gap range. He's a smart baserunner who accelerates on the base paths, but is not a speed demon and tends to be slow out of the box. As a high schooler he's likely a few years away from being a concern as his bat needs to develop to catch his defensive prowess.
More Fantasy News
Lands on IL with shoulder injury
PMilwaukee Brewers
Shoulder
April 24, 2023
The Brewers placed Bush on the 15-day injured list Monday with right rotator cuff tendinitis.
ANALYSIS
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Picks up first save
PMilwaukee Brewers
April 19, 2023
Bush earned a save against the Mariners on Wednesday, retiring both batters he faced in the ninth inning.
ANALYSIS
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Tosses clean inning
PMilwaukee Brewers
April 19, 2023
Bush struck out three batters over a scoreless inning of relief in Tuesday's 6-5 extra-inning victory over the Mariners.
ANALYSIS
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Fires scoreless eighth frame
PMilwaukee Brewers
April 6, 2023
Bush tossed a scoreless eighth inning during Wednesday's 7-6 victory over the Mets.
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Cleared for spring debut
PMilwaukee Brewers
March 8, 2023
Bush is scheduled to make his spring debut Wednesday in the Brewers' exhibition game against the Great Britain team, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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