Braves reliever A.J. Minter underwent season-ending hip surgical procedure at present, the group introduced. Supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned final week that Minter was going below the knife, although he didn’t specify whether or not it’d be a season-ending process. That gave the impression to be the case when Atlanta moved Minter to the 60-day injured listing in tandem with the Gio Urshela signing. In the present day’s announcement formally closes the e-book on any probability of the southpaw making a return within the playoffs.
Minter’s yr concludes with a 2.62 ERA throughout 34 1/3 innings. He fanned an above-average 26.1% of opponents in opposition to an 8.2% stroll fee. That’s a strong strikeout and stroll profile however a tick beneath the numbers he’d posted from 2022-23. Minter fanned greater than 30% of his opponents in every of the earlier two years, topping 60 innings in each seasons.
Hip discomfort has plagued Minter for a number of months. He initially went on the IL in late Might with irritation. His return from that harm proved comparatively short-lived and necessitated the year-ending surgical procedure. It’s potential that marks the top of his Atlanta tenure. The previous second-round choose will hit free company throughout the upcoming offseason. He nonetheless has a shot at a multi-year deal, although that’s not the lock it had appeared earlier within the season.
Dylan Lee stepped into the bullpen in Minter’s place. He’s joined within the aid group by Grant Holmes, who moved again to the bullpen this week. Snitker introduced earlier than Tuesday’s sport that the Braves had been kicking Holmes to aid after they reinstated Reynaldo López from the injured listing (X hyperlink by way of David O’Brien of the Athletic). The 28-year-old rookie had made 4 begins between late July and the center of this month. He pitched pretty nicely, working to a 4.57 ERA with a powerful 28% strikeout fee in 21 2/3 innings.
There’s not any room for Holmes to keep up a spot within the rotation except the Braves needed to go to a six-man employees. Chris Sale, Max Fried, López, Spencer Schwellenbach and Charlie Morton all have spots secured. Holmes exhausted his minor league choices whereas he was a prospect within the Oakland farm system. The Braves can’t ship him to Triple-A with out working him by waivers. Holmes has pitched nicely sufficient this season that he’d very seemingly be claimed, so the Braves will preserve him in a multi-inning aid capability. Holmes tossed two scoreless innings in opposition to Philadelphia on Tuesday and is as much as a 3.45 ERA by 47 frames on the season.
That doesn’t go away a lot flexibility for any type of roster maneuvering. Of Atlanta’s eight MLB relievers, solely Lee nonetheless has choices remaining. Schwellenbach is their solely starter who can freely be despatched down, though he’s pitching so nicely that the group has no purpose to think about doing that. The 13-pitcher restrict may finally push the Braves to make a name on whether or not to proceed carrying each Luke Jackson and Jesse Chavez within the center innings.
Accidents have been an unlucky theme for Atlanta all through the season. That continued this week with Austin Riley struggling a hand fracture that’ll sideline him for nicely over a month. Urshela is the short-term reply at third base, although the Braves appear to be contemplating a contingency possibility within the minors. As Francys Romero reported (on X) earlier this week, Atlanta is giving Yuli Gurriel third base enjoying time at Triple-A Gwinnett. He had performed completely first or second base for the Stripers till Riley’s harm; he has began the previous two video games on the sizzling nook.
Gurriel signed a minor league take care of Atlanta in April. He’s having a really sturdy season with Gwinnett, hitting .297/.378/.493 with 12 homers and a robust strikeout and stroll profile. That has but to get him again to the majors after nicely below-average seasons with the Astros and Marlins in 2022-23. The 40-year-old infielder hasn’t began an MLB sport at third base since 2019, as a substitute spending nearly all of his time at first base in recent times.
