Matzek gave up two runs on three hits in the eighth inning of Thursday's loss to the Mets.
He also threw a wild pitch. Atlanta was down 10-3 when Matzek entered the game, so the performance didn't affect the final outcome, but he's now been tagged for five runs over his last two appearances, leaving him with a 9.00 ERA on the season, along with a 4:2 K:BB through five innings. Matzek has picked up one hold in his five games, and that figures to be the primary source of what fantasy value he earns in 2024.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Velocity nearly back
Rotowire
Matzek touched 95 mph with his fastball during Sunday's Grapefruit League appearance, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
The southpaw's velocity is nearly back to what it was prior to his October 2022 Tommy John surgery, and Matzek certainly looked healthy enough Sunday as he struck out four Red Sox over two perfect innings in a split-squad game. Considering he didn't pitch at all in 2023, Atlanta will likely ease him back into action with lower-leverage duties to begin the season, but a return to the form that saw him post a 2.57 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 29.2 percent strikeout rate and 24 holds over 63 innings in 2021 doesn't seem far off.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Makes appearance Thursday
Rotowire
Matzek (side) struck out two over a scoreless inning Thursday in Atlanta's 3-1 loss to the Rays in Grapefruit League play.
Matzek's appearance was his first since March 5 after he was briefly shut down after experiencing soreness along the left side of his rib cage. The southpaw checked out fine in his return to the hill and remains in the mix for a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen. After missing the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Matzek has fared well this spring with five strikeouts over 3.2 scoreless innings across four appearances.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Will return soon
Rotowire
Matzek (side) is expected to return to Grapefruit League play in the next few days, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Matzek hasn't been available for a few days while dealing with some left side soreness, but he threw a bullpen session Monday and it sounds like he's mostly over the issue. The southpaw reliever has made three scoreless appearances this spring and looks ready to rejoin Atlanta's bullpen after missing all of 2023 following Tommy John surgery.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Dealing with rib injury
Rotowire
Matzek wasn't available for Saturday's 10-3 loss to the Orioles in the Grapefruit League after experiencing tightness around his left rib cage, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Matzek pushed to pitch Saturday, but the Atlanta training and coaching staffs ultimately decided to hold him out as a matter of precaution. Assuming Matzek's injury isn't a lingering concern that prevents him from getting back on the mound within the next few days, he should be in good position to win a spot in Atlanta's Opening Day bullpen.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Set for spring debut
Rotowire
Matzek (elbow) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Monday against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Matzek is unlikely to work more than an inning or two in what will not only be his first outing of spring training, but also his first since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2022. Though Matzek reported to spring training at full health, Atlanta could still opt to place him on the injured list to begin the season if the left-hander struggles to regain his pre-surgery velocity and command during camp. Atlanta will likely let Matzek's performance in the Grapefruit League slate guide whether or not he cracks the Opening Day roster.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Might open season on IL
Rotowire
Matzek (elbow) feels healthy to begin the spring and is aiming to be ready for Opening Day, but an IL stint to begin the season hasn't been ruled out, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Atlanta has the bullpen depth to take things slowly with Matzek as he completes his recovery from Tommy John surgery, so he might end up needing a brief IL stint to allow him to finish ramping up. The 33-year-old southpaw didn't pitch at all in 2023, and his numbers declined in 2022 prior to undergoing surgery that October, but the team is hoping Matzek can return to the form that saw him post a 2.64 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 120:47 K:BB over 92 innings in 2020-21.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Expected back in spring
Rotowire
Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos said Friday that Matzek (elbow) is expected to be ready for spring training, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2022, Matzek resumed throwing in late May and remains on pace to return to Atlanta's bullpen for the start of 2024. The 32-year-old lefty holds a 2.92 ERA and 1.22 WHIP since joining the team in 2020.
Matzek (elbow) played catch Saturday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Matzek underwent Tommy John surgery in October and has reportedly been throwing since the end of May. The 32-year-old reliever still has a long way to go in his rehab process and almost certainly won't be ready to return until next season, but it's a good sign to see Matzek get back to throwing with a bit of velocity.
Matzek (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27.
Matzek's move to the 60-day IL was only a matter of time after he underwent Tommy John surgery in October. He was also dealing with a bulging disc in his back during spring training. The veteran left-hander will miss the entire 2023 campaign while recovering and rehabbing from the elbow procedure.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Recovering from bulging disc
Rotowire
Matzek (elbow) is recovering from a bulging disc in his back, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The bulging disc is in addition to his ongoing recovery from Tommy John surgery. Matzek underwent the reconstructive elbow procedure in October and will miss the entire 2023 campaign. He should be fully recovered from both issues come the start of spring training in 2024.
Matzek (elbow) signed a two-year, $3.1 million deal Friday that includes a $5.5 million club option for 2025.
Matzek underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in October, so he will almost certainly miss all of the 2023 season. Still, the 32-year-old southpaw has a 2.92 ERA and 1.22 WHIP since joining the Braves in 2020, so it's not much of a surprise to see the team eager to lock him down for the next few years.
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Matzek (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Earlier this week, Matzek was removed from Atlanta's roster ahead of the National League Division Series with the Phillies due to elbow discomfort, and follow-up tests evidently determined that the southpaw would need reconstructive surgery to address the issue. Even if Matzek meets the short end of the 12-to-16-month recovery timeline typical for Tommy John surgeries, he won't be available to pitch for Atlanta until at least the spring of 2024, when he'll be 33 years old. Matzek was a key piece out of the bullpen for Atlanta during last season's World Series run, but he had taken a slight step back during the 2022 campaign, logging a 3.50 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 36:29 K:BB over 43.2 innings.
Braves' Tyler Matzek: Misses NLDS roster with elbow issue
Rotowire
Matzek is dealing with elbow discomfort and will not be on Atlanta's NLDS roster, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Matzek will be evaluated in Texas with the hopes of being cleared to play in the NLCS, should Atlanta get that far. The veteran lefty has been a shutdown arm in the last two postseasons, recording a combined 1.48 ERA and a 40.4 percent strikeout rate in 24.1 innings.
