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9:13pm: Smith-Shawver has been recognized with a Grade 2 pressure, the staff advised reporters (link via Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution). The staff didn’t present any form of timetable, however Toscano writes {that a} Grade 2 indirect pressure sometimes requires a six-to-eight absence.
12:00pm: The Braves introduced a sequence of roster strikes right now, signing infielder Joey Wendle and recalling left-hander Ray Kerr. In corresponding strikes, infielder Luke Williams was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett whereas right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver was positioned on the 15-day injured checklist with a strained left indirect. The membership already had a 40-man emptiness for Wendle. Kerr will begin tonight’s sport for Atlanta.
Wendle, 34, is a veteran utility participant who signed with the Mets within the offseason, a one-year cope with a $2MM assure. He was stored in a restricted function, solely moving into 18 video games throughout his roughly six weeks on the Mets, stepping to the plate 37 instances in that stretch. He hit simply .222/.243/.250, a continuation of his tough 2023 with the Marlins, as he hit simply .212/.248/.306 final 12 months.
The Mets launched him earlier this week and are on the hook for the rest of Wendle’s wage. Atlanta will solely be accountable for the prorated league minimal for so long as Wendle is on their roster, with that quantity subtracted from what the Mets pay.
Atlanta has been rotating numerous gamers by way of their bench infielder function this 12 months, with every of David Fletcher, Luis Guillorme, Zack Short and Williams getting a search for that job. Brief continues to be on the roster and has been the membership’s common third baseman currently with Austin Riley battling an an intercostal pressure.
By bumping Williams right down to Gwinnett and including Wendle, the membership provides a bit extra infield depth at basically no value, provided that the Mets are overlaying the majority of the cash and that Atlanta had an open roster spot to make use of anyway. Wendle hasn’t been hitting a lot currently however has loads of expertise on the three infield spots to the left of first base, in addition to temporary stints within the outfield corners. He has typically obtained robust grades wherever he has performed and can provide Atlanta some glove-first depth everywhere in the diamond, whereas Williams can get extra common taking part in time on the farm.
On the pitching aspect of issues, Atlanta obtained thrown off their plans a bit on the weekend. Saturday’s sport towards the Padres was rained out and pushed to a Monday double-header. In Sunday’s sport, Bryce Elder was torched for six earned runs in three innings, forcing Kerr to return in and throw 3 1/3 innings of reduction, adopted by two different pitchers after which Williams mopping up a body.
Elder was optioned previous to the double-header in order that the membership may usher in two recent arms, one among them being the “twenty seventh man” for Monday. That allowed Atlanta to convey up each Darius Vines and Daysbel Hernández. Over the 2 video games, 5 completely different relievers had been used, leaving the bullpen pretty taxed. Kerr was optioned to get the roster again right down to 26. Because of the double-header, every of Chris Sale, Reynaldo López, Charlie Morton and Max Fried began in a span of three days from Monday to Wednesday. With Elder having been optioned, they needed to recall Smith-Shawver to start out yesterday’s sport and now Kerr will take the ball right now in what’s more likely to be a bullpen sport. Pitchers usually have to attend 15 days after being optioned earlier than they are often recalled, however an exception is made when another person goes on the IL.
Atlanta has seemingly been stretching out Kerr of late, both by design or necessity or each. His 4 appearances for the large league membership this 12 months have gone one inning, two innings, three innings after which three and a 3rd. General, he has a 2.89 earned run common in 9 1/3 innings, putting out 27% of opponents with out issuing a stroll.
That’s a small pattern measurement however maybe intriguing sufficient for Atlanta to experience the recent hand for some time. Smith-Shawver goes to overlook at the very least 15 days with this harm and Spencer Strider is out for the 12 months. Elder was simply optioned after posting a 6.46 ERA in 5 begins this 12 months. Huascar Ynoa and Ian Anderson are injured within the minors. Allan Winans and Dylan Dodd every have a 4.50 ERA in Triple-A this 12 months however with uninspiring peripherals.
Kerr was a starter within the minors again earlier than the pandemic however has been stored in reduction since then. His numbers as a reliever actually catch the attention, as he has punched out 27.9% of batters confronted within the majors, between his time with San Diego and Atlanta. In 134 minor league innings from 2021 to the current, he has a 3.69 ERA, 33.4% strikeout price however 12.9% stroll price. Maybe Atlanta can manufacture one other reliever-to-starter success story as they’ve achieved with López this 12 months, or maybe this can simply be a spot begin for Kerr, which can depend on how he appears towards the Pirates right now.
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