Matthews attended Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva, North Carolina and played college baseball at Western Carolina University.

Matthews started 2023 with Fort Myers before being promoted to the High–A Cedar Rapids Kernels.

In 22 games (20 starts) for the two affiliated, he accumulated a 7–3 record and 3.84 ERA with 112 strikeouts across 105+1⁄3 innings pitched.

[3][4] Matthews began the 2024 campaign with Cedar Rapids, and later received promotions to the Double–A Wichita Wind Surge and Triple–A St. Paul Saints.

On August 13, 2024, Matthews was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.