Inured Atlanta Braves reliever Pierce Johnson was scheduled to throw off a mound Friday per a report by Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Johnson was placed on the 15-day injured list during the last road trip due to elbow inflammation.
Pierce Johnson is doing well, Brian Snitker said. He was scheduled to throw a touch-and-feel off the bullpen mound today.
No update on Tyler Matzek. He’s been shut down from throwing for a brief period.
— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) May 10, 2024
Brian Snitker had previously said that they didn’t think the situation with Johnson’s elbow was serious, but they wanted to get ahead of it. Johnson has been a key piece of the Braves’ bullpen since he was acquired at the trade deadline last season. Johnson has appeared in 13 games and has a 3.00 ERA and a 2.83 FIP in 12 innings.
Per Toscano, there was no update on Tyler Matzek who was also placed on the 15-day injured list with his own bout of elbow inflammation. Matzek has been shut down from throwing.
Matzek missed all of the 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. There was initially talk of him beginning the season on the injured list, but he showed enough during the spring to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. Things haven’t gone well for Matzek though as he has allowed 11 runs in 10 innings across 11 appearances. He’s been hit particularly hard of late allowing six earned runs in his last three innings.
