Matzek (oblique) has resumed his throwing program and is scheduled for a bullpen session Thursday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Matzek was diagnosed with an oblique strain in early March, and he could start the regular season on the injured list. He threw a bullpen Monday and will need to have more sessions without suffering a setback before facing live hitters. Matzek appeared in 11 regular-season games for Atlanta in 2024 and posted a 9.90 ERA and 1.90 WHIP across 10 innings after missing most of the season due to an elbow issue.
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Yankees' Tyler Matzek: Nursing oblique injury
Rotowire
Matzek may not be ready for Opening Day after being diagnosed with an oblique injury, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
The severity of the issue isn't clear, but any sort of oblique strain this close to the start of the season likely means Matzek won't be ready for the opener. The southpaw is in camp as a non-roster invitee but likely would have made the initial 26-man roster if he was healthy. Instead, Matzek will aim for a mid-season debut with the Yankees.
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Yankees' Tyler Matzek: Expected to miss a few weeks
Rotowire
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Matzek (oblique) has a "pretty good strain" and will be sidelined a few weeks, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.
Matzek hasn't appeared in a Grapefruit League game since Feb. 25 due to an oblique strain. The good news is Boone noted that Matzek is now asymptomatic and could resume a throwing program Monday. The lefty reliever had been in line to make the team as a non-roster invitee, but he now won't be ready for Opening Day.
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Yankees' Tyler Matzek: Donning pinstripes
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Matzek agreed to a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Monday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Matzek reportedly impressed at a recent showcase, enticing the Yankees to extend him a contract. The veteran southpaw struggled in 2024 while with Atlanta, posting a 9.90 ERA with 10 strikeouts over 10 innings at the big-league level, but he's success in the past in the majors, having turned in sub-4.00 ERAs in three straight seasons from 2020 through 2022. His minor-league deal presumably includes an invitation to MLB spring training that will allow him to compete for a spot in New York's Opening Day bullpen.
Matzek will throw a bullpen session in front of scouts Thursday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Matzek allowed 11 earned runs over 10 big-league innings last season before being sidelined for several months with an elbow injury. He began a rehab assignment in late August but never made it back to the majors, finishing with a 5.23 ERA across 10.1 total frames between San Francisco's and Atlanta's Triple-A affiliates. If the 34-year-old lefty can prove during his showcase that he's completely moved past his injury, a contract offer may head his way.
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Braves' Tyler Matzek: Back with Atlanta
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
