Tyler Matzek has struggled to start 2024 and now lands on the Injured List, placing his future with the Braves in doubt.
The 2021 World Series run of Atlanta Braves reliever Tyler Matzek was crucial, but his 2024 hasn’t started off well. With 10 innings pitched, he has given up 11 earned runs, giving him a 9.90 ERA. Even with his significantly improved 5.94 FIP, he has been among the worst relievers in baseball.
After recuperating from Tommy John surgery, Matzek missed the whole 2023 season. The Braves placed the reliever on the Injured List today due to soreness in his left elbow. Ray Kerr from Gwinnett was recalled by the organization to take his place on the roster.
What the Braves stand to lose with Tyler Matzek on the IL
Obviously, batters were not fooled by Matzek’s stuff. Even though he was walking and striking out more batters than he was in 2022, when batters made contact—which they were doing frequently—they were slamming the ball.
With a whiff rate in the second percentile and a barrel rate in the first percentile, the 33-year-old pitcher ranks among the worst this season in terms of both contact and hard hits allowed at an ideal launch angle.
Three long balls have been hit against just 48 batters overall. This is a tie for the most home runs he has given up while wearing a Braves uniform, as he gave up three in each of the 2021.
The Braves put Matzek on the injured list in the hopes that the rest will help the lefty’s elbow and allow Ray Kerr,
the next man up, to show what he can do.
Kerr has struck out 37.3% of batters in Gwinnett this season, but he has also given up five home runs in 14 innings due to the long ball. His ERA is 4.50.
What Tyler Matzek’s stay in Illinois means
We may be witnessing the end of an era with Matzek wearing a Braves uniform if he is unable to regain his form after returning off the injured list.
Jonny Venters had a difficult first six games of the 2019 season despite starting with the Braves. The team placed him on the IL on April 15 and he returned from the IL on May 10. He was given three more games and released on May 18.
Matzek, who could be a free agency at the end of the season, might follow a similar path. If Matzek does not have competitive stuff when he returns, the Braves may bench him early in order to chase a reliever in a trade to bolster the pen or to give relievers like Kerr a longer look.
Of course, Matzek will always be a Brave because of his incredible play in the 2021 playoffs, which helped the team win its first title since 1995, even if the Braves decide to let him go in the upcoming months.
Matzek had not pitched since 2015 prior to joining the Braves in 2020. He had been trying to recover from the yips for years. The Braves gave him a chance in 2020 and he quickly became an integral part of the bullpen.
In the 2021 postseason, he was perhaps the greatest member of the Night Shift. Thanks to one of the most heroic outings you will ever witness in Game 6, as the southpaw struck out three straight after entering the game with runners on second and third base, his 12.47% cWPA was the highest among pitchers in the 2021 NLCS.
This season, Mookie Betts—the last strikeout—stated that the Braves reliever was unhittable. The Braves could be in fortunate if Tyler Matzek can play that way again, but that will take time.