| Date | News | Comment |
| Jun 28 2024 | Matzek (elbow) has been playing catch from 90 feet, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek has been shelved since May 7 due to inflammation in his left elbow, but has been slowly progressing since. He's yet to throw off a mound and isn't anywhere close to returning at this point. |
|
| Jun 4 2024 | 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 | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
|
| May 7 2024 | Atlanta placed Matzek on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to May 5, with left elbow inflammation, Grant McAuley of 929 The Game reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
|
| Apr 12 2024 | Matzek gave up two runs on three hits in the eighth inning of Thursday's loss to the Mets. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
|
| Mar 20 2024 | Matzek touched 95 mph with his fastball during Sunday's Grapefruit League appearance, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
|
| Mar 17 2024 | Matzek (side) struck out two over a scoreless inning Thursday in Atlanta's 3-1 loss to the Rays in Grapefruit League play. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
|
| Mar 11 2024 | Matzek (side) is expected to return to Grapefruit League play in the next few days, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
|
| Mar 10 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
|
| Feb 26 2024 | Matzek (elbow) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Monday against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
|
| Feb 18 2024 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
|
| Oct 13 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 Atlanta in 2020. |
|
| Jun 17 2023 | Matzek (elbow) played catch Saturday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek underwent Tommy John surgery in October and has reportedly been throwing since the end of May. The 32-year-old reliever still has a long way to go in his rehab process and almost certainly won't be ready to return until next season, but it's a good sign to see Matzek get back to throwing with a bit of velocity. |
|
| Mar 30 2023 | Matzek (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to March 27. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek's move to the 60-day IL was only a matter of time after he underwent Tommy John surgery in October. He was also dealing with a bulging disc in his back during spring training. The veteran left-hander will miss the entire 2023 campaign while recovering and rehabbing from the elbow procedure. |
|
| Mar 2 2023 | Matzek (elbow) is recovering from a bulging disc in his back, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The bulging disc is in addition to his ongoing recovery from Tommy John surgery. Matzek underwent the reconstructive elbow procedure in October and will miss the entire 2023 campaign. He should be fully recovered from both issues come the start of spring training in 2024. |
|
| Nov 18 2022 | Matzek (elbow) signed a two-year, $3.1 million deal Friday that includes a $5.5 million club option for 2025. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in October, so he will almost certainly miss all of the 2023 season. Still, the 32-year-old southpaw has a 2.92 ERA and 1.22 WHIP since joining the Braves in 2020, so it's not much of a surprise to see the team eager to lock him down for the next few years. |
|
| Oct 12 2022 | Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Matzek (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Earlier this week, Matzek was removed from Atlanta's roster ahead of the National League Division Series with the Phillies due to elbow discomfort, and follow-up tests evidently determined that the southpaw would need reconstructive surgery to address the issue. Even if Matzek meets the short end of the 12-to-16-month recovery timeline typical for Tommy John surgeries, he won't be available to pitch for Atlanta until at least the spring of 2024, when he'll be 33 years old. Matzek was a key piece out of the bullpen for Atlanta during last season's World Series run, but he had taken a slight step back during the 2022 campaign, logging a 3.50 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 36:29 K:BB over 43.2 innings. |
|
| Oct 11 2022 | Matzek is dealing with elbow discomfort and will not be on Atlanta's NLDS roster, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek will be evaluated in Texas with the hopes of being cleared to play in the NLCS, should Atlanta get that far. The veteran lefty has been a shutdown arm in the last two postseasons, recording a combined 1.48 ERA and a 40.4 percent strikeout rate in 24.1 innings. |
|
| Aug 15 2022 | Matzek (3-2) picked up the win Sunday over the Marlins, allowing one hit and striking out one in a scoreless eighth inning. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Atlanta was in a 1-0 hole when Matzek took the mound, but he kept the deficit from getting worse and was rewarded when his team rallied in the top of the ninth. The southpaw has two wins and a save in his last three appearances, and in 17 innings since the beginning of July he sports a 2.65 ERA and 1.12 WHIP, albeit with a lackluster 13:8 K:BB. |
|
| Aug 10 2022 | Matzek struck out two in a perfect 11th inning Tuesday to record his first save of the season in a win over the Red Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Deadline acquisition Raisel Iglesias worked the eighth inning and closer Kenley Jansen the ninth, leaving the extra frames to the rest of the bullpen. Dylan Lee gave up a run in the 10th after Atlanta had taken a lead, but Matzek was able to get the job done in the 11th. The southpaw's control has wavered at times this season, and he sports a 3.86 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 21:15 K:BB through 25.2 innings with a win and six holds in addition to Tuesday's save. |
|
| Jul 4 2022 | Matzek (shoulder) was activated from the injured list Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek has been out since injuring his shoulder in mid-May, but he completed a rehab assignment and is ready to pitch for the big club again. Matzek had a couple subpar outings earlier in the season, but he also picked up six holds, and it should not be long before he reclaims a key spot in Atlanta's bullpen. |
|
| Jun 29 2022 | Matzek (shoulder) had his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek began his rehab stint at Single-A Augusta on Monday but didn't make any appearances, and he'll progress to the Triple-A level several days later. While the southpaw seems to be closing in on a return, it's not yet clear which day he'll be able to rejoin the major-league club. |
|
| Jun 26 2022 | Matzek (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Monday at Single-A Augusta, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek has been cleared for game action after he tossed a live batting practice session Saturday without issue. The 31-year-old has been sidelined since mid-May with shoulder inflammation and will likely need at least two rehab appearances before Atlanta brings him back from the 15-day injured list. |
|
| Jun 22 2022 | Manager Brian Snitker said Wednesday that Matzek (shoulder) is on the cusp of beginning a rehab assignment, Maria Torres of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek landed on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation in mid-May and was shut down for several weeks prior to beginning a throwing program in early June. The southpaw is slated to throw a side session in the coming days and will likely be cleared to join a minor-league affiliate if he feels good afterward. |
|
| Jun 11 2022 | Matzek (shoulder) was cleared to begin a long toss routine Friday, Gabriel Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw has been sidelined for a month so far due to shoulder inflammation, but he's ready to take the next step in his recovery. Matzek doesn't appear to be particularly close to rejoining the Atlanta bullpen, and he might need a minor-league rehab assignment before being activated from the IL. |
|
| Jun 4 2022 | Matzek (shoulder inflammation) has started playing catch, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was shut down from throwing a couple weeks ago, and it seems like he is starting to ramp back up. Matzek is without a timetable to return. |
|
| May 17 2022 | Matzek has no structural damage in his left shoulder and has been shut down from throwing for a couple weeks before being re-evaluated, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander underwent an MRI after landing on the injured list with shoulder inflammation Tuesday, and he's avoided a more serious injury. Matzek figures to be sidelined until at least mid-June, as he'll need some time to build his arm back up after the shutdown. |
|
| May 16 2022 | Matzek was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday due to a shoulder injury, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's unclear as to when the reliever suffered the injury, as he last pitched May 10 against Boston, tossing a scoreless frame. The severity of his injury remains unknown at this time, but he's set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, per Toscano. Tucker Davidson will be recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move and is scheduled to start Tuesday's matchup. |
|
| Apr 23 2022 | Matzek collected his third hold of the season Friday, walking one and striking out three over 1.1 scoreless innings in a win over the Marlins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 31-year-old southpaw has looked good to begin the campaign as he fills a setup spot in front of closer Kenley Jansen. Over five appearances and 5.1 innings, Matzek has a 1.69 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 5:2 K:BB. |
|
| Oct 23 2021 | Matzek picked up the win in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Dodgers on Saturday, striking out four batters across a pair of scoreless innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Atlanta starter Ian Anderson was ineligible for the win after throwing just four innings, so Matzek received the well-deserved honor. The lefty entered with none out in the top of the seventh and the tying run on second base but proceeded to strike out Albert Pujols, Steven Souza and Mookie Betts. He remained in the game for the eighth inning and retired the side. It's been a remarkable postseason for the veteran, who appeared in five of the six NLCS games against the Dodgers after appearing in all four NLDS games against the Brewers. He's allowed just two runs on four hits in 10.1 innings over that run, striking out 17 while walking four. |
|
| Jun 30 2021 | Matzek walked two batters in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday during a loss to the Mets. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw is having trouble finding the plate right now, issuing five free passes over his last two appearances, but none of the baserunners came around to score. Matzek has a 2.08 ERA but a 1.50 WHIP over his last 10 games, posting an 8:8 K:BB through 8.2 innings during that stretch, and his luck may not hold much longer if he doesn't find a little more control. |
|
| Apr 20 2021 | Matzek (0-2) was tagged with the loss Tuesday as Atlanta fell 3-1 to the Yankees, giving up two runs on two hits and a walk without recording an out. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw entered the game to begin the eighth inning with the score tied 1-1 and promptly loaded the bases, then had to watch as Nate Jones uncorked a wild pitch to bring around one inherited runner and issued a bases-loaded walk to tack another run onto Matzek's ledger. The runs were the first Matzek has allowed this season, and he still sports a 2.35 ERA and 14:5 K:BB through 7.2 innings with three holds in nine appearances. |
|
| Apr 15 2021 | Matzek (0-1) allowed a single and struck out the side in the 10th inning, getting the loss in Wednesday's 6-5 defeat against Miami. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Another casualty of the rule putting a runner on second to start extra innings, Matzek suffered the loss despite pitching phenomenally. After yielding a leadoff RBI double, the flame-throwing lefty struck out the next three batters on 12 pitches, only one of which was a ball. Matzek struggled with control in spring training and in his first few regular-season appearances, but he hasn't walked a batter in his last three innings pitched. The veteran's ERA remains at 0.00 through 5.2 early season innings, and he looks capable of replicating his breakout performance from 2020. |
|
| Mar 26 2021 | Matzek has posted a 2.25 ERA and 12:5 K:BB through eight innings this spring. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The run prevention is nice, but Matzek has had a little trouble getting the ball over the plate consistently, an issue that plagued him in the past prior to his remarkable comeback in 2020. The left-hander has the strikeout stuff to get out of jams and is still expected to fill a high-leverage role in the Atlanta bullpen to begin the season, but if he can't rein in the walks he could slip down the pecking order quickly. |
|
| Sep 22 2020 | Matzek (4-3) picked up the win in Monday's 5-4 victory over the Marlins, walking two and striking out three over two scoreless innings of relief. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Huascar Ynoa got the start but left after three innings due to a cracked fingernail on his pitching hand, opening the door for Matzek to enter the game with Atlanta ahead and earn credit for the win. The southpaw has made a successful return to the majors this season, posting a 3.04 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 38:9 K:BB through 26.2 innings, primarily in middle relief. |
|
| Sep 3 2020 | Matzek (3-2) picked up the win Wednesday over the Red Sox, walking one and striking out three over 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He became the pitcher of record when Atlanta took the lead for the first time in the top of the seventh. Matzek threw 17 of 26 pitches for strikes as he continues to rack up whiffs -- on the season, the southpaw has a 24:5 K:BB through 16.2 innings to go along with a 3.24 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. |
|
| Aug 12 2020 | Matzek (2-1) took the loss Wednesday versus the Yankees, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two in 2.1 innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek served in a primary pitcher role Wednesday, but the two runs he allowed in the fourth inning were enough to stick him with the loss. It's the first appearance where Matzek has allowed runs this season -- he has a 1.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 12 strikeouts in 10 innings while primarily working in the middle innings. |
|
| Aug 9 2020 | Matzek (2-0) fired 1.2 scoreless innings as he earned the win in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Phillies. He allowed no hits and two walks while striking out one. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek has been sharp out of the bullpen to begin the season as he still hasn't allowed any runners to cross the plate, and he was rewarded with his second win in the past three appearances during the first game of Sunday's doubleheader. Despite his recent string of victories, the left-hander has limited fantasy value as a middle reliever. |
|
| Aug 2 2020 | Matzek (1-0) tossed two scoreless innings as he earned the win Sunday against the Mets. He allowed two runs and no walks while striking out four. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek earned a role as a middle reliever for the Braves to begin the season, and he's fired 5.1 shutout innings with a 9:0 K:BB to begin the season. He was rewarded with his first win of the season after starter Kyle Wright was unable to last long enough to qualify for a decision, but Matzek's fantasy value is limited within Atlanta's crowded bullpen this season. |
|
| Jul 23 2020 | Matzek was added to the Braves' 30-man roster Thursday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matzek was competing for a job in the bullpen during spring training and summer camp, and he was rewarded with a spot on the 30-man roster to begin the season. The 29-year-old last appeared in the majors with the Rockies in 2015, but he posted a 7.20 ERA and 21:10 K:BB over 15 innings in the minors last season. Matzek should pitch mainly in lower-leverage situations this year. |
|
| Mar 31 2018 | The Mariners released Matzek from the minors Saturday, Chris Cotillo of SB Nation reports. | Matzek signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners in February. The 2009 first-round pick last pitched in the majors for the Rockies in 2015, and did not pitch in the minors after being released by the White Sox last spring. |
|
| Aug 3 2016 | Matzek was promoted to Double-A Hartford on Friday, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. | Matzek missed time earlier in the season due to some performance anxiety, but it seems that he's doing well enough to advance to the next stage of the minor leagues. The left-hander's 4.71 ERA wasn't very impressive during his time with High-A Modesto, especially for a reliever, so he'll have to figure some things out if he wants to get back up to the Triple-A level before the conclusion of the season. |
|
| May 19 2016 | Matzek (personal) was reinstated from the 15-day DL on Thursday and optioned to High-A Modesto. | The left-hander started the season on the disabled list due to an anxiety issue, but he has been gradually progressing throughout the spring. He's off the disabled list as of Thursday, but he will continue to work at High-A Modesto for the time being as he ramps up his workload. |
|
| May 12 2016 | Matzek (personal) walked the only batter he faced in an appearance with High-A Modesto on Wednesday. | Matzek was a bit wild, with four of his five pitches being balls, but it's noteworthy that the Rockies felt confident enough in Matzek to put him back in a game situation. He'll continue to get eased back into action over the coming weeks, and the left-hander should hopefully be able to enter the Triple-A rotation once he has stretched out his arm enough. |
|
| May 7 2016 | Matzek (personal) will pitch in an extended spring training game Saturday, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports. | Matzek seems to be getting near a return to regular game action now that he's able to pitch in game situations again. As long as no setbacks occur, the left-hander could enter the Triple-A rotation within the next week or two. |
|
| Apr 29 2016 | Matzek (personal) will throw batting practice for the first time in extended spring training Friday, CBS Denver reports. | It's good to see Matzek making progress in his return from performance anxiety issues, but he still has a ways to go before returning to game action. If he can get through a few batting practice sessions, the next steps would be to throw in simulated games and rehab assignments before returning to the mound full-time. His timetable for return should become clearer once he makes the next step in his rehab process. |
|
| Apr 13 2016 | Matzek has progressed to throwing 35-pitch bullpen sessions, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. | The Rockies have decided to go "a bullpen at a time" with the left-hander as he returns from an absence caused by his performance anxiety. It's unclear when he'll return to game action, but the progression in pitch count during each bullpen session is a good sign that he'll be decently conditioned when he is able to return. Matzek will likely slot into the rotation with Triple-A Albuquerque when he comes of the disabled list. |
|
| Apr 6 2016 | Matzek (personal) has been throwing bullpen sessions but still has no timetable for a return to game action, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports. | Matzek has been dealing with some performance anxiety issues, which kept him out of the majority of spring training. It's a good sign that he's been able to get some pitching in, though, which should make his transition back into game action a bit easier. He should slot into the rotation with Triple-A Albuquerque once he does return. |
|
| Apr 3 2016 | Matzek (personal) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday. | Matzek dealt with similar performance anxiety issues this spring that plagued him last season, and the Rockies have decided to place him on the DL to begin the season because of it. He'll likely head to Triple-A Albuquerque once he's able to reduce his anxiety. |
|
| Mar 31 2016 | Matzek (personal) rejoined the Rockies on Thursday, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports. | Bothered by performance anxiety since the middle of last season, Matzek spent the past month working with mental skills coach Rick Perea, a former NFL linebacker who also does work for the Denver Broncos. Injuries are taking a toll on the back end of the Rockies' rotation, yet Matzek still doesn't figure to be an option for the first few weeks of the season. He may stay behind at extended spring training, and eventually figures to pitch for Triple-A Albuquerque. |
|
| Mar 14 2016 | Matzek has been excused from camp for personal reasons, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. | Matzek has struggled in camp and is dealing with the same performance anxiety issues that plagued him last summer. It's unclear how long the left-hander will be away from the team, but his chances of cracking the Opening Day roster would seem to be reduced at this point. |
|
| Feb 29 2016 | Matzek is scheduled to pitch in the Rockies' spring opener Wednesday, the Denver Post reports. | The Rockies are considering Matzek to be part of the competition for a rotation spot this spring, but he may stick as a reliever if he fails to win a starting role. The young lefty took time away from baseball last summer to deal with performance anxiety issues, but he's impressed during bullpen sessions early on this spring. |
|
| Jun 30 2015 | The Rockies have sent Matzek home for a break after he struggled in his most recent appearance at short-season Boise last week, the team's official site reports. | There is no scheduled return date for Matzek, whose control has prevented him from becoming a consistent contributor at the big league level for the pitching-starved Rockies. After a seven-walk start upon his demotion to Triple-A, the Rockies elected to send him back to extended spring training before a recent move to rookie ball. |
|
| Jun 16 2015 | Matzek will begin pitching for the Rockies' short-season club in Boise, Idaho when they begin their season Thursday, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. | Viewed as a potential breakout candidate on the Rockies' staff heading into the season, Matzek was banished to the minors after posting an ugly 15:19 K:BB ratio over his first five starts of the season. He subsequently walked seven batters over one inning in his first start at Triple-A Albuquerque, prompting the organization to pull him from competitive action and work with Mark Wiley, the Rockies' director of pitching operations. The organization seems confident that the time off might have helped Matzek correct any sort of flaw in his delivery, but he's still on an indefinite timetable to return to Triple-A, much less the big leagues. He'll probably first need to put together a couple of outings at the low-level affiliate before getting a chance to pitch against better competition. |
|
| May 20 2015 | Matzek was scratched from his start earlier this week at Triple-A Albuquerque, with the organization expressing a desire to have him work on his mechanics in a non-competitive environment, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports. | Matzek has had control problems dating back to when he first entered the organization in 2009, but after appearing to rectify things during his time in the majors last season, the issues resurfaced again this spring. After the lefty walked 19 batters over his first 22 innings with the Rockies, he was optioned back to Albuquerque, where he promptly allowed seven free passes in his first outing while lasting just one inning. Manager Walt Weiss believes Matzek is experiencing a mental block more than anything, and is hopeful that with a little time off, the 24-year-old can bounce back and contribute with the big club again later in 2015. |
|
| May 8 2015 | Matzek was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, Nick Groke of The Denver Post reports. | Matzek walked 15 batters over 12 innings in his last three starts, so this doesn't come as a surprise. He probably needs some time to work things out in the minors, but the lefty could easily re-emerge as a rotation option for the Rockies, as the team isn't exactly flush with attractive alternatives. |
|
| May 6 2015 | Matzek lasted just two innings in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader with Colorado, giving up four runs on three hits, six walks, and a home run. He struck two in the outing. | Matzek battled his control throughout his brief outing, throwing just 28 of 56 pitches for strikes. It is his second six walk outing in his past three, which has to be of concern to the Rockies considering his struggles with control throughout his minor league career. Matzek might need to make some kind of adjustment mechanically or mentally to get back to throwing strikes consistently. |
|
| May 5 2015 | Matzek will start the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. | The first game of the twin bill will feature Matzek versus Josh Collmenter, a matchup that was originally slated for Monday. However, rain forced the first two games of the series to be postponed. |
|
| May 5 2015 | Matzek will not pitch Tuesday against Arizona as the game has been postponed due to rain. | The Diamondbacks and Rockies are planning to play a doubleheader Wednesday to make up one of the two games lost in the series due to inclement weather. Matzek, who has posted a 2.70 ERA in four starts despite a 1.55 WHIP, will likely just move back yet again and start opposite Josh Collmenter. |
|
| May 4 2015 | Matzek will not pitch against Arizona on Monday as the game has been postponed due to rain. | This is the second-straight day that Matzek's start is pushed back, but he's probably still in line to pitch in Tuesday's game with Monday's postponed game to be made-up at a later date. Although, rain is in the forecast Tuesday, leaving Matzek's start in limbo yet again. |
|
| May 4 2015 | Matzek will start Tuesday against Arizona, Nick Groke of The Denver Post reports. | Matzek's start has now been pushed back for two consecutive days and Tuesday poses problems as well since the Denver area is expecting more rain. This makes him an unstable option across all formats for Tuesday's lineups. |
|
| May 2 2015 | Matzek will not pitch Sunday and will instead make his next start Monday against the Diamondbacks, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports. | This is a bummer as it means Matzek won't get two starts this week and won't get to pitch in Petco Park this week. Kyle Kendrick will instead take the ball Sunday against the Padres. Matzek will be in line to make two starts next week. |
|
| Apr 28 2015 | Matzek (hamstring) is expected to be fine for Sunday's scheduled outing in San Diego, MLB.com reports. | Matzek was removed from Monday's game against Arizona due to cramping in his left hamstring, and while he's dealt with similar issues in the past, he'll have plenty of time to recover for his next start. Matzek indicated that the cramping is more likely to occur when playing at home, due to the dry air in the Rocky Mountains. While his K:BB ratio (13:13) through four starts (20.0 innings) is somewhat concerning, the southpaw has allowed two or fewer runs in 10 consecutive outings, dating back to August of last season. |
|
| Apr 27 2015 | Matzek exited his start against Arizona after just five innings with cramping in his left hamstring, Zach Buchanan of The Arizona Republic reports. | Matzek gave up five hits and two earned runs during his five innings, which was also accompanied by three strikeouts. He's still in a position to pick up the win although his premature exit puts the focus on his health moving forward. He's probably not in danger of missing his next start this weekend but should be considered day-to-day in the meantime. |
|
| Apr 26 2015 | Matzek will not make his regularly scheduled start Sunday, as the game has been postponed due to weather, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. | Matzek and the rest of the Rockies will get the day off, making it unclear at the moment when the date of his next start will land. Colorado will open a three-game set with the Diamondbacks on Monday. |
|
| Apr 26 2015 | Matzek will start Monday against the Diamondbacks, Jenny Cavnar of ROOT Sports reports. | Matzek will face Chase Anderson on the road, rather than a home matchup against Tim Lincecum, as his regularly scheduled start Sunday was postponed due to weather. Any opportunity to pitch outside of Coors Field certainly bodes well for owners in deeper formats where Matzek is an option. |
|
| Apr 21 2015 | Matzek didn't have his best control Tuesday, allowing two earned runs on four hits and six walks, in five innings pitched with three strike outs. He allowed a solo homer to Clint Barmes. | Matzek has always has tantalizing strike out ability mixed with terrifying control. He has managed to be more precise in the majors than the minors, but there won't be many six walk outings before his is banished to the bullpen. |
|
| Apr 16 2015 | Matzek gave up only one run on five hits and a walk while striking out three to pick up the win against the Giants on Wednesday. | Matzek outpitched two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum and even retired 12 of 13 batters during one stretch. His next start is scheduled for Tuesday against the Padres. |
|
| Apr 10 2015 | Matzek allowed just one run on four hits, walking three and striking out four, but did not qualify for a win after departing having completed just four innings in a 5-1 Colorado win over the Cubs on Friday afternoon. | The end results looked reasonably good, but Matzek was pretty inefficient, needing 84 pitches (only 40 for strikes) to cover the four innings. The Cubs helped him, going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, so he will need to do better in future starts, especially in Coors Field, if he wants to be considered a fantasy asset. |
|
| Mar 31 2015 | Matzek will start the Rockies' home opener, April 10 against the Cubs, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. | By virtue of the Jhoulys Chacin's release and the injury to Jorge De La Rosa (groin), Matzek was effectively cemented into the rotation. However, instead of slotting him in for the finale of the team's season-opening series at Milwaukee, the team will move Matzek back to next Friday to kick off the first home series against Chicago. It's not ideal for fantasy purposes, as Matzek, like the rest of the Rockies' starters, is likely best utilized as a road streaming option. He's allowed six runs on nine hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in eight spring innings thus far. |
|
| Mar 24 2015 | Matzek is considered a lock to open the season in the rotation, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports. | With the Rockies' presumptive top two starters heading into the spring having since been injured (Jorge De La Rosa) or released (Jhoulys Chacin), Matzek likely would have solidified a starting job merely by staying healthy all spring. While his performance (6.75 ERA, nine hits, and four walks allowed over eight innings) through three Cactus League outings hasn't been overly impressive, Matzek made significant strides with his command in September of last season, giving manager Walt Weiss confidence in having the left-hander take the ball every fifth day. With Kyle Kendrick slated to get the Opening Day nod for the Rockies, Matzek will serve as the No. 2 or 3 pitcher on the staff until De La Rosa returns. |
|
| Feb 26 2015 | Matzek is in line to open the season as a member of the Rockies' rotation, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports. | When injuries to the starting pitching staff began to mount last June, Matzek was recalled by the Rockies and made the most of his opportunity in the rotation. The 24-year-old compiled a 4.05 ERA over 20 appearances, with his performance over his last six outings (4-2, 1.55 ERA) firmly solidifying his starting spot for 2015. The lefty had battled control issues throughout his minor-league career that aren't necessarily solved, but he still seemingly possesses more upside than any other member of the Rockies' projected rotation due to the solid strikeout rate he displayed during his hot finish to last season. |
|
| Sep 22 2014 | Matzek took the loss Monday after allowing one run on four hits with three walks and eight strikeouts over six inning against the Padres. | The lone blemish on Matzek's evening was a first inning RBI double by Padres catcher Rene Rivera. It will be the final outing of the year for the left-hander with the Rockies going to a six-man rotation. Matzek, who finished strong over the last month, ends the season 6-11 with a 4.05 ERA, 41 walks and 91 strikeouts in 117.2 innings. |
|
| Sep 17 2014 | Matzek captured his sixth win of the season Tuesday against the Dodgers, limiting the opposition to two runs over 5.1 innings while striking out six. | Matzek's WHIP took a hit in this one, as he yielded 11 hits and a walk, but he was able to strand 10 runners to prevent the Dodgers from capitalizing. Though he was originally scheduled to make his next turn Sunday against the Diamondbacks, he'll be bumped back a day following the addition of Eddie Butler to the rotation. As a result, he'll make his final start of the season Monday against the Padres at Petco Park, where he should represent a safe streaming option. |
|
| Sep 16 2014 | Matzek will likely miss out on a two-start week with Eddie Butler set to join the rotation Saturday against the Diamondbacks, MLB.com's Thomas Harding reports. | Matzek, who will start Tuesday against the Dodgers, was set to take the hill for his second turn of the week on Sunday, but the addition of Butler will push everyone back a day. It's probably a blessing in disguise, as Matzek gets to bypass a start at Coors Field and instead make one next week at the more forgiving confines of Petco Park. |
|
| Sep 11 2014 | Matzek struck out seven and walked four while giving up two runs on four hits over 6.1 innings in a losing effort Wednesday. | While the young left-hander has a two-start week on tap, both of those turns will come at Coors Field. Matzek will face the Dodgers on Tuesday before seeing the D-backs on Sept. 21. |
|
| Sep 5 2014 | Matzek (5-9) earned his first career shutout Friday, holding the Padres to three hits and one walk with six strikeouts. | Matzek became the first Rockies pitcher to throw a shutout this season, with the feat even more impressive in that it came at Coors Field. The lefty has now given up only two runs over his last three starts, covering a total of 23 innings. While he has battled control issues during a mostly disappointing minor-league career, Matzek seems to have unexpectedly corrected that flaw during his 17 appearances (16 starts) with the Rockies. Matzek owns a palatable 3.24 BB/9 rate and has generated ground balls on nearly half the balls in play he's allowed over 100 innings, aiding his success and putting him on the inside track to lock down a rotation spot in 2015. |
|
| Aug 30 2014 | Matzek (4-9) pitched seven outstanding innings on Saturday against the Diamondbacks, allowing no runs on three hits while walking three and striking out four as he picked up the win. | It was arguably Matzek's best outing of the season, although he did have very similar results in a July 26 start. Matzek stayed ahead of hitters all game long and got Diamondbacks hitters to ground out 11 times in the game. The young Rockies starter lowered his ERA to 4.75 on the season. |
|
| Aug 26 2014 | Matzek won his third game of the season Monday, giving up two runs on eight hits while striking out seven over seven innings versus the Giants. | Matzek made short work of a struggling Giants offense, needing only 90 pitches to get through seven innings. The rookie improves to 3-9 with a 5.14 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 60:32 K:BB ratio. Matzek will pitch in Arizona on Saturday. |
|
| Aug 20 2014 | Matzek pitched 6.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five batters before picking up his ninth loss of the year(2-9) in Tuesday's game against the Royals. | Even though he picked up the loss, this was one of Matzek's better outings on the year. He now has just six quality outings in his 14 starts in the big leagues. Matzek still has trouble with his control and sports a mediocre 53:30 K:BB ratio in 77 innings pitched. His next start is scheduled for Monday on the road against the Giants. |
|
| Aug 14 2014 | Matzek (2-8) took the loss Wednesday against the Padres, striking out a season-high nine batters but also surrendering five runs over five innings. | Despite pitching in the cozy confines of Petco Park on Wednesday, Matzek still managed to yield two home runs, also tying a season-high. After shutting out the Pirates over seven innings on July 26, the young lefty has since been blown up for 17 runs over his last 15.2 innings, resulting in his season ERA jumping over a full run during that time. |
|
| Aug 8 2014 | Matzek (2-7) allowed three runs on four hits over five innings as he took the loss, while giving up five walks on Friday against the Diamondbacks. | The Rockies young rookie struggled most of the night with his control, although things could've been much worse if not for being bailed out after walking the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Matzek has really had some hard times on the road this season where he is now 0-4, with a 6.00-plus ERA. |
|
| Aug 3 2014 | Matzek was rocked for eight runs in four innings in Saturday's loss to the Tigers. | Matzek allowed 10 hits, walked two, and gave up eight earned runs for his sixth loss of the season. He pitched only four plus innings, giving up at least a run in each of those innings. His ERA is now 5.31. |
|
| Aug 1 2014 | Matzek will likely slot back into the rotation Saturday against the Tigers, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. | After he was used for two innings in relief in Tuesday's 16-inning game, Matzek was scratched from Thursday's start, and it wasn't immediately certain when he might draw back in. It appears he'll now take the mound Saturday, after the originally scheduled starter, Yohan Flande, was moved to long relief Thursday and covered 1.2 innings out of the bullpen. Matzek has performed better than expected since making his MLB debut June 11, carrying a 4.39 ERA over 55.1 innings, but he's not an especially enticing streaming option vs. a respectable offense like the Tigers. |
|
| Jul 30 2014 | After he was called upon to cover the final two innings of Tuesday's 16-inning loss, Matzek will likely be scratched from his scheduled start Thursday vs. the Cubs. | Matzek was the ninth pitcher used Tuesday night by the Rockies, who battled with the Cubs for six hours and 27 minutes, the longest game in the history of both franchises. The lefty ultimately cracked in the 16th inning, loading the bases on a walk, hit by pitch and single before surrendering a walk-off sacrifice fly to Starlin Castro. The team probably won't announce their rotation plans for the rest of the week until later Wednesday, with Matzek expected to get pushed back to start at some point during the weekend series with the Tigers. |
|
| Jul 27 2014 | Matzek tossed seven scoreless innings Saturday night, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out three in an 8-1 victory over the Pirates. | For Matzek, Saturday's performance was the best of his young career. The 23-year-old lefty had struggled to a lofty 5.55 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across his previous 24.1 innings this month, so this effort is certainly a positive sign for one of the Rockies' top pitching prospects. He will be looking to build upon this outing Thursday versus the Cubs. |
|
| Jul 20 2014 | Matzek pitched six innings Sunday in the loss to Pittsburgh, surrendering three runs on seven hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. | Matzek delivered the quality start for the Rockies and left with the game tied. It's second quality start in four attempts this month, but he hasn't delivered much else. |
|
| Jul 12 2014 | Matsek lost again Saturday, giving up four earned runs on seven hits across six innings against the Twins. He also fanned two and walked one. | He wasn't awful, but Kevin Correia was better for the Twins (one run in six-innings) as the Rockies -- despite a five-hit performance by Charlie Blackmon -- couldn't provide much run support for the rookie. Matsek is now 0-4 over his last six starts and hasn't won since his MLB debut on June 11 against the Braves. His ERA also rose to 4.97 in this one to go with 24 K's and a 1.44 WHIP across 41.2 innings this season. |
|
| Jul 7 2014 | Matzek struggled Monday, taking the loss after allowing five runs in six innings against San Diego. | Four walks didn't help matters for the young lefty. Matzek has had some solid games through his first six starts of the season, but is now the owner of a 4.79 ERA. He'll see the Twins in his next start. |
|
| Jun 27 2014 | Matzek tossed six strong innings, giving up one run on five hits while striking out three versus the Brewers on Friday night. | Making his second consecutive start versus the Brewers, Matzek must have figured something out about the Milwaukee lineup after allowing five earned runs in last weekend's outing at Coors Field. The rookie southpaw, currently ranked by MLB.com as the Rockies' No. 12 prospect, has produced fair results over his first four starts at the highest level. Across 23.1 innings, Matzek owns a 4.24 ERA and 1.41 WHIP while surrendering just one home run. |
|
| Jun 23 2014 | Matzek was nicked up for five runs on seven hits and four walks over 5.1 innings Sunday against the Brewers, dropping his season record to 1-2 in the 6-5 loss. | The command issues that have dogged Matzek throughout his minor league career finally reared their head in the lefty's third major league start, as he found the strike zone on just 50 of his 96 pitches. Matzek's stellar MLB debut back on June 11 is starting to look more like an aberration than the norm, and it will be tough to count on him to deliver a solid turn his next time out in a rematch Friday against the Brewers at Miller Park. |
|
| Jun 17 2014 | Matzek allowed 10 hits and three runs in a loss to the Dodgers on Monday. | After a dazzling debut last week, Matzek was much less sharp in his second major league start. The rookie added two walks and didn't strike out a batter. The Dodgers' top four hitters gave Matzek fits, going a combined 10-for-14. He'll face the Brewers on Sunday. |
|
| Jun 9 2014 | Matzek will be called up to start Wednesday's home game against the Braves, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. | The Rockies are dealing with a number of injuries in the starting rotation, and Matzek -- a former first-round pick -- is the latest to get an opportunity with the big-league club. Not only has he never pitched in the majors, but Matzek's minor league track record is rather shaky, which has led to speculation that he'll eventually end up as a reliever. He has long dealt with control issues, and carries a 4.05 ERA, 4.74 FIP, 8.2 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 through 66.1 innings (12 starts) with Triple-A Colorado Springs this season. Having said all that, the 23-year-old southpaw has shown significant progress this year, and he's always had intriguing stuff. Given all the injuries the Rockies are hampered by, Matzek could stick in the rotation beyond Wednesday. |
|
| Jun 5 2014 | Matzek and Jon Gray are considered the most likely candidates to overtake Jordan Lyles' spot in the rotation after Lyles suffered a broken hand in Wednesday's start against the Diamondbacks, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports. | After he was touched up for eight earned runs over 4.1 innings in his most recent start at Triple-A Colorado Springs, Matzek was passed over in favor of Eddie Butler to claim Franklin Morales' rotation spot earlier this week. While the Rockies would undoubtedly like to see Matzek turn in a strong outing in the minors before bringing him up to the big leagues, the team doesn't exactly have a lot of experienced alternatives at their disposal. Though Gray is the more highly regarded arm in the Rockies' system, the organization may be reluctant to throw him into the fire just yet, perhaps giving Matzek the opportunity to make his big-league debut. |
|
| Jun 5 2014 | Matzek and Jon Gray are considered the most likely candidates to overtake Jordan Lyles' spot in the rotation after Lyles suffered a broken hand in Wednesday's start vs. the Diamondbacks, Nick Groke of the Denver Post reports. | After he was touched up for eight earned runs over 4.1 innings in his most recent start at Triple-A Colorado Springs, Matzek was passed over in favor of Eddie Butler to claim Franklin Morales' rotation spot earlier this week. While the Rockies would undoubtedly like to see Matzek turn in a strong outing in the minors before bringing him up to the big leagues, the team doesn't exactly have a lot of experienced alternatives at their disposal. Though Gray is the more highly-regarded arm in the Rockies' system, the organization may be reluctant to throw him into the fire just yet, perhaps giving Matzek the opportunity to make his big-league debut. |
|
| Jun 1 2014 | Matzek could be first in line to join the Rockies rotation if the team decides to move Franklin Morales to the bullpen, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports. | Morales has given up 13 homers over 12 appearances (11 starts), which has predictably inflated his ERA and contributed to the team's recent swoon. Matzek has long struggled with his command in the minors, but the lefty has shown improvement in that regard with a 50:25 K:BB ratio over 10 starts (56.1 innings) at Triple-A Colorado Springs. It appeared the former No. 11 overall draft pick would have to convert to a relief role to speed up his arrival to the big leagues, but it seems the Rockies haven't given up on the idea of using him as a starter. The Rockies haven't pulled Morales from his starting role just yet, but another poor outing could allow Matzek to step into the rotation right away. |
|
| Mar 13 2014 | Matzek has been optioned to minor league camp, the Rockies' official site reports. | The once prized prospect was converted to a bullpen role this spring, and is unlikely to ever hold much fantasy value. However, he could finally make his major league debut this season out of the pen, where his command issues won't be quite as big of a hindrance. |
|
| Mar 9 2014 | The Rockies have converted Matzek to a bullpen role this spring, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports. | Matzek's well-documented command issues have stalled his development as a starting pitcher, and the move to relief seems to be a last-ditch attempt by the Rockies to salvage some return on the first-round investment they made on the lefty. The 23-year-old thrived in his first exposure to relief during the Arizona Fall League and has been impressive thus far in Cactus League play, tossing five scoreless innings while striking out six batters. His lack of experience above Double-A may not allow him to land a spot on the Opening Day roster, but he should get the opportunity to make his major league debut at some point this season. |
|
