Braves take a hard hit to the bullpen, placing left-hander Tyler Matzek on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves took another blow to their bullpen on Tuesday, as they were forced to place left-hander Tyler Matzek on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation.
This comes after the Braves had already placed right-hander Pierce Johnson on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation just days prior.
Matzek, who has a 9.90 ERA in 11 games this season, allowed three runs and recorded only two outs in Saturday night’s 11-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 33-year-old pitcher had been a key reliever for the Braves during their 2021 World Series run, boasting a 2.57 ERA in 69 games. However, he underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in 2022 and missed the entire 2023 season.
Braves manager Brian Snitker stated that Matzek reported soreness in his elbow on Monday, with swelling being not uncommon after Tommy John surgery. Snitker emphasized the importance of allowing Matzek to fully recover before returning to the mound.
In response to Matzek’s placement on the injured list, the Braves recalled left-hander Ray Kerr from Triple-A Gwinnett ahead of their matchup against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.