The Atlanta Braves might have early shades of their 2021 World Series team in 2026. Atlanta is off to the best start in MLB, and look to be a true force in the National League.
As many Braves fans probably remember of that 2021 World Series victory, southpaw reliever Tyler Matzek was everything and more for the Atlanta bullpen, which was lights out all October long.
Tyler Matzek, 35, is still currently an MLB free agent. He played with the New York Yankees in 2025.
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Tyler Matzek is Still An MLB Free Agent
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 26: Tyler Matzek #68 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 26, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
While Matzek has struggled in the majors since that World Series title with the Braves, it is still a little surprising that he’s still on the market and can’t even land a minor league deal with a team.
In 2025 with the Yankees, Matzek pitched 6.2 innings and struck out seven batters, but he also allowed 11 hits and three earned runs in that timeframe. Since his time with the Braves, Matzek has battled some costly injuries.
Originally drafted 11th overall in the 2019 MLB draft by the Colorado Rockies, Tyler Matzek didn’t debut in MLB until 2014. He spent two seasons with Colorado. In 2014, he started 19 games and pitched 117+ innings. However, after 2015, he took a four-year hiatus from Major League Baseball before joining the Braves in 2020.
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Tyler Matzek’s Career w// the Braves
GettyATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 19: Tyler Matzek #68 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after failing to catch the ball tossed by Matt Olson #28 on a grounder by Corey Seager #5 of the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning at Truist Park on April 19, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Tyler Matzek begun his MLB stint with the Braves during the shortened 2020 season. In 29 innings in 2020, Matzek posted a 2.79 ERA with 43 strikeouts.
The following was perhaps the best season of his MLB career, 2021. During that season when the Braves became eventual World Series champions, Matzek posted a 2.57 ERA over 63 innings and 77 strikeouts.
Matzek gave his all for the Braves to win the Fall Classic, which included an incredible eighth-inning performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, where he struck out three Dodgers hitters to get out of a big jam.
Now, he remains a free agent still, and all 30 MLB teams are welcome to sign him.
All in all, over his seven-year career, Matzek holds an ERA of 3.73 over 290+ innings and 279 strikeouts.
He turned from a starter to a reliever after his time with Colorado, and if any team does want to sign Matzek, he’s pretty much only an option for the bullpen at this stage in his career.
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Former Atlanta Braves World Series Champion Pitcher is Still An MLB Free Agent