The Atlanta Braves have been hit with yet another setback as left-hander A.J. Minter has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation. This news comes as a blow to the Braves’ bullpen, as Minter has been a key contributor this season. He has appeared in a team-leading 44 games and ranks second on the team with 10 saves. The decision to place Minter on the injured list was made after he played catch on Friday, indicating that his condition had worsened.
Right-Hander Nick Anderson Also Sidelined
In addition to Minter, the Braves have been hit with another injury to their bullpen. Right-hander Nick Anderson was placed on the 60-day injured list on Thursday due to a right shoulder strain. This further depletes the Braves’ pitching options and puts additional pressure on the remaining bullpen pitchers.
Braves Maintain Strong Record Despite Injuries
Despite these setbacks, the Atlanta Braves have managed to maintain the best record in the majors, standing at 61-29. Their recent 9-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox in a series opener only solidifies their dominant position. However, the loss of Minter and Anderson adds to a growing list of injured pitchers for the Braves, including left-hander Dylan Lee and right-hander Jesse Chavez. These injuries have left the team with a limited pool of available pitchers and have created significant gaps in the bullpen.
Manager Snitker Remains Optimistic
Despite the challenges posed by these injuries, Braves manager Brian Snitker remains optimistic about the team’s prospects. He acknowledges the significant loss of both Minter and Anderson, who played crucial roles in bridging innings and getting the team to their closer, Raisel Iglesias. However, Snitker believes that Minter’s injury is not too severe and hopes that he will be able to resume his normal workload once he returns. The Braves have recalled right-hander Dereck Rodríguez from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill the void left by Minter’s absence. Rodríguez has previously shown promise, throwing two scoreless innings in a previous appearance with Atlanta in June.
The Atlanta Braves have been dealt a blow to their bullpen with the placement of A.J. Minter and Nick Anderson on the injured list. Despite these setbacks, the team maintains the best record in the majors and their manager remains optimistic about their prospects. With the recall of Dereck Rodríguez, the Braves hope to mitigate the impact of these injuries and continue their successful season.
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