MATT FESTA NEWS

Late homers by Wyatt Langford, Jonah Heim lead Rangers to come-from-behind 9-7 win over Red Sox

Wyatt Langford hit a tying three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning and Jonah Heim hit a two-run homer in the 10th to lead the Texas Rangers to a 9-7 win over the Boston R...

AUGUST 15 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Texas Rangers place RHP Josh Sborz on injured list with right shoulder fatigue

Josh Sborz has been placed on the injured list due to right shoulder fatigue

AUGUST 11 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Joins big-league bullpen The Rangers selected Festa's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

Impact He'll join the big-league bullpen as a replacement for right-hander Josh Sborz, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder fatigue. After signing a minor-league contract with the Rangers in July, Festa made six appearances for Round Rock and gave up one earned run on six hits and three walks while striking out 13 batters over 8.2 innings.

AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE

Gets MiLB contract from Texas The Rangers signed Festa to a minor-league contract on Monday.

Impact Festa elected free agency earlier this month rather than accepting an outright assignment by the Mets. It didn't take him long to find a new home, although he will head to the minors first. Festa holds a 4.66 ERA and 103:45 K:BB over 94.2 innings covering parts of five major-league seasons.

JULY 10 • ROTOWIRE

Becoming free agent Festa elected free agency Friday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Impact Festa was designated for assignment by the Mets on Wednesday and will try his luck on the open market. The 31-year-old pitched only one inning with New York and allowed four runs. However, he has a solid track record in the majors and should garner some interest in free agency.

JULY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Becoming free agent Festa elected free agency Friday, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Impact Festa was designated for assignment by the Mets on Wednesday and will try his luck on the open market. The 31-year-old only pitched one inning with New York and allowed four runs. However, he has a solid track record in the majors and should garner some interest in free agency.

JULY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment The Mets designated Festa for assignment Wednesday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Impact Festa was roughed up for five runs (four earned) over one inning in his lone appearance with the Mets. He's clearing out to make room on the roster for Christian Scott, who will start Wednesday's game versus the Nationals.

JULY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Astros move above .500 for 1st time this year, beat Mets 10-5 in 11 innings for 9th win in 10 games

The Houston Astros moved over

JUNE 30 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Released by Mariners Festa was released by the Mariners on Tuesday.

Impact He had been designated for assignment and is now free to look for a gig elsewhere after clearing waivers. Festa has yielded four earned runs and walked 12 over nine major-league innings this year.

AUGUST 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment Festa was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Tuesday.

Impact This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for Ryan Jensen, who has been claimed off waivers from the Cubs. Festa, 30, had allowed four earned runs on four hits and 12 walks in just nine major-league innings this year.

AUGUST 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Tacoma The Mariners optioned Festa to Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Impact With Bryce Miller (finger) returning from the injured list to start Sunday, Festa will serve as the Mariners' roster casualty. The 30-year-old righty made two appearances during his latest major-league stint, throwing 2.1 scoreless frames while giving up one hit and striking out three.

JULY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Summoned to big leagues Festa was Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times from Triple-A Tacoma on Monday, Ryan Divish reports.

Impact Festa is assuming the roster and bullpen spot vacated by Trevor Gott, who was traded to the Mets. The right-hander holds a 5.40 ERA over six relief appearances in the majors in 2023.

JULY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Mariners optioned Festa to Triple-A Tacoma on Friday.

Impact Festa made three appearances after being recalled from Tacoma at the end of May, throwing 3.1 hitless innings while striking out five batters and walking three. Despite his impressive stretch, he will head back to Triple-A as Penn Murfee (elbow) returns from the 15-day IL.

JUNE 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Recalled from Tacoma Seattle recalled Festa from Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Impact Festa excelled with Tacoma after being demoted early in April by the Mariners with a 0.43 ERA and a 16:10 K:BB over 21 innings. The right-hander was a big part of the Seattle bullpen in 2022, but struggled in the early going of the season with a 10.80 ERA (four runs in 3.1 innings). He should be a middle-inning option for Seattle while he's with the club. Darren McCaughan was optioned to Triple-A to open room on the roster for Festa.

MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Mariners place pitcher Andrés Muñoz on 15-day injured list

Seattle Mariners pitcher Andrés Muñoz was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right deltoid strain

APRIL 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Good start to spring Festa has fired two perfect innings during which he's recorded two strikeouts across two Cactus League appearances this spring.

Impact The 30-year-old right-hander logged a career-high 54 innings across 53 appearances in 2022, posting a 2-0 record, two saves, six holds, 4.17 ERA and 1.13 WHIP. Festa produced an impressive 10.7 K/9 along the way and was involved in high-leverage work at times, but he's likely ticketed for more of a sixth- and seventh-inning role in 2023 as long as there aren't a rash of injuries in front of him.

MARCH 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Astros' Phil Maton out for playoffs after punching locker

Astros reliever Phil Maton says he broke his right pinkie when he punched a locker in frustration after Houston’s regular-season finale and will miss the postseason

OCTOBER 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Castillo strikes out 8, surging Mariners drop A's 5-1

Luis Castillo struck out eight in six innings of two-hit ball and the Seattle Mariners beat the Oakland Athletics 5-1 to keep pace with the Toronto Blue Jays in their bid to host a...

OCTOBER 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Trout homers for 8th time in 10 games, Angels beat M's 8-7

Mike Trout homered for the eighth time in 10 games, and the Los Angeles Angels tripped up the Seattle Mariners’ AL wild-card run with an 8-7 victory that ended a four-game losing s...

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Duxbury, Festa get revenge vs. Scituate Matt Festa finished 19-for-28 in the passing game, racking up 376 yards and five total touchdowns offensively as the Duxbury Dragons avenged...

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022 • BOSTONHERALD.COM

Working in middle relief Festa has not seen a save opportunity since July 30 and has a 2.70 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and four strikeouts in 6.2 innings in August.

Impact He had a run of high-leverage usage in late July, but is firmly in the middle-relief mix now with Seattle. Paul Sewald and Andres Munoz are the top Mariners relievers to roster in fantasy.

AUGUST 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up second save Festa allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Rangers.

Impact Festa tallied his second save of the season, both of which have come since July 16. Paul Sewald pitched on consecutive days so likely wasn't available and Erik Swanson was used in the eighth inning, opening the door for Festa. However, each of Sewald, Swanson and Diego Castillo has picked up saves since July 13, so it's difficult to pinpoint the current occupant of the closer role in Seattle.

JULY 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rodríguez HR again, 3-run shot in 7th, Mariners sweep Texas

Julio Rodríguez connected again, hitting a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Seattle Mariners finished off a three-game sweep by beating the Texas Rangers 4-2

JULY 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Strikes out side for first save Festa pitched a perfect 10th inning with three strikeouts to earn the save in a 3-2 win over the Rangers on Saturday.

Impact Festa earned his first career save in dramatic fashion by striking out the side to protect a one-run lead with the automatic runner in scoring position in the bottom of the 10th inning. The Mariners main options for saves - Paul Sewald and Diego Castillo - had already pitched earlier in the game so manager Scott Servais turned to the 29-year-old right-hander to close the door. Look for Festa to return to a middle-relief role unless something changes in the Mariners bullpen.

JULY 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Records second victory Festa (2-0) recorded the win in a victory over the Rangers on Thursday, firing a perfect seventh inning during which he recorded two strikeouts.

Impact After mowing through the Rangers on 13 pitches during his one frame, Festa was rewarded for his stellar showing when the Mariners completed a comeback from a 5-1 deficit in the top half of the eighth inning. The right-hander has now posted seven consecutive relief appearances without yielding an earned run, lowering his ERA from 5.51 to 3.97 in that span.

JULY 15, 2022 • ROTOWIRE