Call to the pen
Fansided

Clutch in the MLB postseason: Game-changing moments (2016-2022)

By Emily Townley

Oct 7, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the MLB Postseason logo before the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners in game one of the Wild Card series for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the MLB Postseason logo before the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners in game one of the Wild Card series for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 02: The Atlanta Braves celebrate their 7-0 victory against the Houston Astros in Game Six to win the 2021 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 02, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 02: The Atlanta Braves celebrate their 7-0 victory against the Houston Astros in Game Six to win the 2021 World Series at Minute Maid Park on November 02, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

2021

In all honesty, this article just gives me another excuse to write about the 2021 Atlanta Braves and their magical run. A shocker, right? Sure, other teams had clutch moments and all credit to them! Unfortunately for those around me, for fans of Atlanta’s division rivals, and for whoever is reading this, I will never shut up about 2021.

I could talk about Freddie Freeman’s eighth-inning home run against Milwaukee in Game 4 of the NLDS, Max Fried’s outing in Game 6 of the World Series, Eddie Rosario turning into Barry Bonds for three weeks, or Jorge Soler’s home runs in Game 4 and Game 6 (the latter of which still hasn’t landed) of the World Series. However, most of these moments would not have existed if not for Tyler Matzek in Game 6 of the NLCS.

If I were to create a baseball dictionary, Matzek’s picture would appear next to the definition of  “clutch.” Coming in for Luke Jackson, Matzek faced Albert Pujols with no outs and two runners in scoring position. In 11 pitches, Matzek struck out Pujols, Steven Souza Jr., and Mookie Betts one by one. Atlanta eventually won that game, sending them to their (long-awaited) World Series victory.

While his performance in the 2021 postseason overall was great, it was his appearance in Game 6 that ensured Atlanta’s spot as NL champions. If I were Liberty Media, I would build a statue of this guy smack-dab in the middle of the Battery. To take this a step further, if I were the mayor of Atlanta, I’d ensure he never has to buy a drink in the city. Ever. That’s how clutch Tyler Matzek’s outing in the seventh inning was.

Anti-Clutch: Gerrit Cole (Wild Card). The 2021 AL Wild Card saw Yankees fans get a taste of Pittsburgh Gerrit Cole. He pitched two complete innings and gave up three runs before he was taken out in the third. When facing a historic division rival in the playoffs, the stakes are already high enough. C’mon, man!

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