Tyler Matzek is not just a World Series champion by virtue of his 2021 title run with the Atlanta Braves: he was a key cog in last year’s bullpen.
When he is healthy, he is one of the Braves’ best pitchers, and that’s saying a lot considering they have one of MLB’s best relief corps.
He was phenomenal last year, with a 2.57 ERA in 63 innings.
After completing another strong campaign in 2022 (3.50 ERA despite some injury issues with his shoulder), the left-hander was poised to make the Braves’ NL Division Series roster.
However, on October 5, he reported elbow issues.
The tests confirmed the worst possible outcome for Matzek and Braves fans.
“Tyler Matzek is undergoing Tommy John surgery today. #Braves,” Braves insider Grant McAuley tweeted.
Tyler Matzek is undergoing Tommy John surgery today. #Braves
— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) October 12, 2022
That’s a bummer.
Matzek Will Be On The Shelf Until 2024
Matzek won’t be part of the roster as the Braves look to repeat, and will instead go under the knife and miss the next 14-16 months.
If there is a unit in baseball, however, that can absorb the loss of a great reliever, it’s the Braves.
They have a deep and effective bullpen that includes pitchers such as Kenley Jansen, Raisel Iglesias, Collin McHugh, A.J. Minter, Jackson Stephens, Dylan Lee, Jesse Chavez, Bryce Elder, Jake Odorizzi, and more.
That’s a phenomenal group, one that will help manager Brian Snitker navigate through Matzek’s absence.
He will be given all the time he needs to recover from the injury, start his rehab process, and return at some point in the 2024 season.
Atlanta, however, fell into a 0-1 hole after dropping Tuesday’s NLDS opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-6.
They will need to shut down the Phils’ dangerous lineup to come back and allow their bats to do their job.
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