Tyler Matzek’s Journey From the AirHogs to the World Series

The left-hander was once so out of sorts that he attended tryouts with football players and security guards. Now he has one of Atlanta’s most dependable arms.

HOUSTON — Atlanta’s most indispensable reliever this postseason was so dispensable three years ago that he could not even find a job in baseball. So he bought a Facebook advertisement and landed with an independent league team in Texas.

He lived in an R.V. that summer, in 2018, and cashed a paycheck of around $400 every two weeks, with no idea whether he would win or go bust.

The story of Tyler Matzek’s rise from the Texas AirHogs to the World Series features international relations, a former member of the Navy SEALs and security guards. Now, it also includes appearances nearly every night on the October stage with the Braves. When the stocky, 6-foot-3 left-hander entered Game 1 of the World Series here Tuesday night, it was his 10th relief appearance in Atlanta’s 11 postseason games.