Matzek (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Saturday and will report to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Matzek has spent parts of the last five-plus seasons with Atlanta and had occupied a spot on the big club's 60-day injured list before he was dealt to the Giants in July. The left-hander began a rehab assignment with the Giants' Triple-A affiliate Aug. 13, but he wasn't activated before San Francisco released him last week. Now back in the Atlanta organization, Matzek is ostensibly healthy now after making five rehab appearances and will look to impress at Gwinnett over the next couple of weeks with the hope of earning a promotion to the big club.
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Tyler Matzek: Released by Giants
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The Giants released Matzek (elbow) on Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
No team was interested in claiming Matzek after the Giants placed him on waivers Wednesday, so the 33-year-old lefty will now get to choose where he plays next -- likely on a minor-league deal. He has been out since May due to elbow inflammation but is expected to be ready to pitch again at some point in September.
The Giants placed Matzek (elbow) on waivers Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chroniclereports.
Matzek has been on the shelf since early May due to elbow inflammation, and he's given up three earned runs over 4.2 innings with Triple-A Sacramento since beginning a rehab assignment Aug. 13. He's trending toward a return from the 60-day injured list sometime in September and can now be picked up by another team that is willing to pay the remainder of his salary for the season. If he passes through waivers unclaimed, the 33-year-old southpaw will remain with the Giants.
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Giants' Tyler Matzek: Initiates rehab assignment
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Matzek (elbow) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sacramento last week and has given up two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk while striking out a batter across two innings over his two appearances.
Matzek had resided on Atlanta's injured list since early May while recovering from elbow inflammation before he was dealt to San Francisco on July 29. The left-hander completed his throwing progression shortly after joining his new organization and is now in the midst of a rehab assignment that could be extended into September if the Giants aren't satisfied with his results at Sacramento. He's scheduled to make his next appearance for the Triple-A club Tuesday, according to MLB.com.
San Francisco acquired Matzek (elbow) and minor-league infielder Sabin Ceballos from Atlanta on Monday in exchange for right-handed reliever Luke Jackson and outfielder Jorge Soler, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Matzek has been out early May while dealing with inflammation in his throwing elbow and isn't expected to return from the 60-day injured list until late August or early September. The left-hander has struggled to a 9.90 ERA and 1.90 WHIP with 10 strikeouts over 10 innings in 11 appearances out of the bullpen with Atlanta this season. Once healthy, Matzek will likely operate in a low-leverage role out of the Giants bullpen.
Matzek (elbow) has been playing catch from 90 feet, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Matzek has been shelved since May 7 due to inflammation in his left elbow. He's yet to throw off a mound and isn't anywhere close to returning at this point.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Shifted to 60-day IL
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Atlanta transferred Matzek (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game Atlanta
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Brian Anderson, who signed a one-year deal with the club. Matzek has been sidelined for nearly a month with left elbow inflammation and now won't be eligible to return for at least another month.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Out with elbow inflammation
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Atlanta placed Matzek on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with left elbow inflammation, Grant McAuley of 929 The Game reports.
Matzek missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and has struggled in 2024, collecting a 9.90 ERA and 10:3 K:BB across 10 relief innings. It's not clear at this point how long he might be sidelined. Ray Kerr is up to take Matzek's spot in Atlanta's bullpen.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Gets rocked Thursday
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
