Yankees reliever Tyler Matzek has an oblique strain, which could threaten his availability for Opening Day.
Pitching coach Matt Blake told The New York Post that the team could “potentially” be without Matzek (a non-roster invite) when they break camp, and that they want to make sure he has a “true buildup” in order to get ready for the regular season.
Matzek, 34, has pitched in just 11 big league games since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October of 2022.
From 2020 to 2022, he was a stalwart in the Braves’ bullpen, posting a 2.92 ERA (3.34 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP while striking out 156 batters (10.3 per nine) in 135.2 innings over 132 appearances.
New York’s bullpen will be led by newly-acquired closer Devin Williams and Luke Weaver, and should also include Ian Hamilton, Mark Leiter Jr., and Tim Hill.
In addition to Matzek, the relief corps is dealing with injuries to Jake Cousins, JT Brubaker, and Scott Effross.
Clayton Beeter to start year on IL
The right-hander has not pitched in games this spring due to offseason shoulder tightness and will start the season on the injured list.
Beeter, who is on New York’s 40-man roster, hopes to get into minor-league rehab games in April, per NJ.com’s Randy Miller.
The 26-year-old appeared in three games with the Yanks last year, his first taste of big league action, allowing two runs on four hits in 3.2 innings with a walk and five strikeouts. He pitched to a 2.25 ERA and 1.083 WHIP over 10 games (seven starts) and 36.0 innings during 2024 at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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