The first 15,000 fans through the gate at Truist Park Tuesday night in Atlanta received a Tyler Matzek bobblehead, and some may not have even realized the easter egg featured on the bottom of the box alluding to the reliever’s epic nickname.
The peanuts are an ode to Matzek’s semi-NSFW nickname which he earned in the 2021 postseason. While he was untouchable throughout the run to the World Series, it was Matzek’s legendary relief performance in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Dodgers that etched his name into Braves lore with three straight strikeouts to strand runners at second and third in the 7th inning of the series-clinching victory.
The commemorative bobblehead features Matzek stepping off the mound pumping his fist following his third strikeout of that 7th inning appearance—perhaps the moment Tyler ‘Nut****’ Matzek was truly born.
Monday, the Braves took down the Mets 4-1 with a late-inning comeback as Matzek picked up the win on his night. Following his return from the IL, the 31-year-old hasn’t allowed an earned run across four appearances.
Unfortunately for the Braves, the Mets took the series with a 7-3 victory in today’s rubber match, leaving Atlanta with a 2.5 game lead in the NL East.