Matt Bush

Matt Bush

38-Year-Old PitcherRP
 Free Agent  
Free Agent
2024 Fantasy Outlook
There was no outlook written for Matt Bush in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#361
ADP
$Signed a one-year contract with the Rangers in July of 2023. Released by the Rangers in November of 2023.
Non-tendered by Texas
PFree Agent  
November 17, 2023
Bush was non-tendered by the Rangers on Friday, becoming a free agent.
ANALYSIS
Bush inked a minor-league contract with Texas this past July, a week after being released by the Brewers, but he did not wind up making an appearance at the MLB level for the eventual World Series champions. The 37-year-old reliever may have to settle for another minor-league deal this winter if he wants to continue his playing career.
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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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Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-8%
BAA vs RHP
2024
No Stats
2023
 
 
-17%
BAA vs RHP
2022
 
 
-3%
BAA vs RHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2022vs Left .218 119 34 15 22 2 0 8
Since 2022vs Right .200 173 50 9 32 5 0 8
2024vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Left .286 25 6 4 6 1 0 3
2023vs Right .238 23 4 2 5 2 0 2
2022vs Left .200 94 28 11 16 1 0 5
2022vs Right .194 150 46 7 27 3 0 6
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Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-11%
ERA at Home
2024
No Stats
2023
 
 
-28%
ERA on Road
2022
 
 
-2%
ERA at Home
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2022Home 4.14 1.11 37.0 0 2 1 11.2 3.4 2.7
Since 2022Away 4.64 1.12 33.0 2 3 3 10.4 2.7 1.4
2024Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Home 12.00 3.00 3.0 0 1 0 6.0 15.0 6.0
2023Away 8.59 1.09 7.1 0 1 1 9.8 1.2 3.7
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
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Matt Bush See More
Collette Calls: NL Pitching Bold Predictions Accountability
October 17, 2023
Jason Collette reviews his final set of bold preseason predictions, including a particularly prescient one about Padres pitcher Blake Snell.
Closer Encounters: The Importance of a Good Bullpen
June 29, 2023
Ryan Rufe looks at the behavior of contenders in the reliever trade market in recent seasons and predicts who might get moved this year.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
June 25, 2023
Jan Levine looks over this week's selections, including a former first-overall pick and a couple starting pitchers aiming to make their returns.
Mound Musings: The Endgame Odyssey Continues – National League
May 4, 2023
Brad Johnson dives into some unsettled National League bull pens, including in Washington, where Kyle Finnegan is getting most ninth-inning work for now.
NL FAAB Factor: Waiver Pickups of the Week
April 23, 2023
Jan Levine is back to review a number of NL players who deserves more fantasy coverage.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2019
2018
2017
2012
2006
2005
2004
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.
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
Not on ALCS roster
PTexas Rangers  
October 15, 2023
Bush wasn't included on the Rangers' roster for the ALCS against the Astros, which begins Sunday night in Houston, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning Newsreports.
ANALYSIS
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Selected from Triple-A
PTexas Rangers  
September 30, 2023
The Rangers selected Bush's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
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Lands back with Rangers
PTexas Rangers  
July 12, 2023
Bush signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Monday.
ANALYSIS
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Released by Brewers
PFree Agent  
July 3, 2023
Bush was released Monday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
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Designated for assignment
PMilwaukee Brewers  
July 1, 2023
Bush was designated for assignment by the Brewers on Saturday.
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could join closer mix once healthy
PTexas Rangers  
July 8, 2022
With news from manager Chris Woodward, via Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com, that incumbent closer Joe Barlow will be temporarily removed from closing duties, Bush could be a candidate for saves in the future.
ANALYSIS
Bush is still ramping up throwing activity as he returns from a forearm injury, courtesy of Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, but the 36-year-old has closer experience. Bush has one save in 2022, but he has pitched well, racking up 36 strikeouts in just 26.2 innings.
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