On Tuesday, the Atlanta Braves faced another setback in their bullpen when they placed left-handed pitcher Tyler Matzek on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his left elbow.
This move follows the placement of right-handed pitcher Pierce Johnson on the same list on Sunday because of inflammation in his right elbow.
The decision to put Matzek on the injured list came after he gave up three runs in just two outs during Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which ended in an 11-2 loss for the Braves. Matzek, aged 33, has struggled this season with a high ERA of 9.90 in 11 games, conceding 11 runs over 10 innings.
Matzek played a significant role in the Braves’ 2021 World Series victory, boasting an ERA of 2.57 across 69 games. However, he underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in 2022, causing him to miss the entire 2023 season.
Braves manager Brian Snitker revealed that Matzek reported elbow soreness on Monday, the team’s day off. Snitker mentioned that experiencing inflammation after Tommy John’s surgery is common and emphasized the importance of managing it properly to ensure Matzek’s full recovery.
To fill the gap left by Matzek’s absence, the Braves called up left-handed pitcher Ray Kerr from Triple-A Gwinnett before their Tuesday night game against the Boston Red Sox.
