The Braves introduced that they’ve chosen right-hander Zach Thompson to the key league roster. Fellow righty Jesse Chavez has been designated for project because the corresponding transfer.
The strikes are seemingly a response to the membership’s pitching employees getting closely used early on. Atlanta is beginning the 12 months with seven straight video games and misplaced the primary 5. On Sunday, AJ Smith-Shawver began and solely lasted 4 innings. The membership misplaced on the highway, which means the bullpen solely needed to cowl 4 further frames, however swingman José Suarez tossed three of them. Reliever Héctor Neris additionally tossed an inning and was designated for project afterwards.
Forward of yesterday’s recreation, the membership chosen Chavez to take the place of Neris. Yesterday’s starter Grant Holmes additionally lasted simply 4 innings. Shedding on the highway once more, the bullpen wanted to cowl one other 4 frames. Raisel Iglesias and Enyel De Los Santos every coated one. Chavez took two, throwing 41 pitches within the course of.
The membership didn’t use any of Aaron Bummer, Dylan Lee, Pierce Johnson or Daysbel Hernández previously two days however the remainder of the group received a whole lot of work, significantly the multi-inning choices. In addition they needed to recall Bryce Elder to start out tomorrow’s recreation when Reynaldo López landed on the injured checklist with shoulder irritation.
Certainly, the membership shall be hoping for a great outing from Chris Sale tonight, however he’ll be going through a troublesome Dodger lineup. Whether or not it’s after Sale tonight or after Elder tomorrow, Thompson is perhaps wanted to cowl some lengthy reduction innings earlier than the membership’s much-needed off-day on Thursday.
Thompson, 31, has some main league expertise below his belt. He debuted with the Marlins in 2021 and posted a 3.24 earned run common, working each within the rotation and the bullpen. Previous to 2022, he was traded to the Pirates for Jacob Stallings however his ERA jumped to five.18 with Pittsburgh that 12 months.
He hasn’t been within the majors since then. The Bucs designated him for project and flipped him to the Blue Jays forward of the 2023 season. The latter membership saved him within the minors that 12 months, the place Thompson posted a 4.61 ERA in 24 Triple-A begins. He was outrighted off Toronto’s 40-man throughout that season and elected free company at season’s finish. He required flexor tendon surgical procedure in October of that 12 months and missed all of 2024 whereas recovering.
That led to a minor league cope with Atlanta a number of months in the past. He tossed 9 innings over two spring appearances, permitting one earned run with 5 strikeouts and three walks. He’ll give the membership one other multi-inning arm for now, although the necessity for such a participant might dissipate pretty rapidly. As talked about, they’ve an off-day on Thursday. They’ll have one other on Monday, giving them some extra respiration room. Spencer Strider might be reinstated from the IL within the subsequent week or two and López might doubtlessly be again within the combine if his problem proves to be minor. Thompson nonetheless has choices and will doubtlessly be despatched to the minors whereas hanging onto his 40-man spot.
Extra to return.
