ATLANTA – The Netherlands-leading Atlanta Braves added two substitutes to their injury-plagued bullpen Monday, taking on Colorado right-hander Pierce Johnson and Texas left-hander Taylor Hearn.
The Braves have the best baseball record (64-34) and a big lead in the NL East, but they’ve been hit hard by injuries — particularly on their pitching team.
Substitutes Nick Anderson (right shoulder strain), Dylan Lee (left shoulder inflammation) and Jesse Chavez (left shin bruise) are all on the 60-day injured list. Left-handed AJ Minter is also out with a shoulder infection, although he is expected to start a minor league rehab stint on Tuesday and could rejoin the team by the close of trading next week.
“You just don’t know what’s going to happen,” general manager Alex Anthopoulos said in a conference call with reporters. “You just don’t know what needs you’re going to have, what hurts you’re going to suffer. You can never take anything for granted at any point.”
The Braves gave up pitching candidates Victor Vodnik and Tanner Gordon and brought in 32-year-old Johnson. who started the season as Closer to the Rockies. He has 13 saves but was removed from that role in early June while posting a 7.50 ERA through 24 innings.
Johnson has since made a better pitch, giving up six earned runs in 15 innings, though his overalls (1-5, 6.00 ERA) are still ugly. The Braves have been looking for another right-hander with bullpen power and are hoping Johnson can fill that role. He has 58 strikeouts in 39 innings while pitching at hard-hitting Coors Field.
“I know the numbers aren’t great on the surface. But he still gets a lot of hits and misses,” said Anthopoulos. “We believe there is potential and room for improvement here.”
Hearn was transferred from Rangers for cash after being called out last week. He gives the Braves another left-hander in the bullpen but is more of a depth gain as he still has minor league options.
Hearn began the season with the Rangers and posted a 10.29 ERA in four backup appearances before being selected to the Triple-A Round Rock in mid-April. In 24 appearances for the minor league team, he had a 2-2 record with a 3.66 ERA.
Anthopoulos noted that Hearn, 28, has made 25 starts in the big league, giving the Braves additional flexibility. His big problem is a lack of control, having recorded 104 walks over 229 innings in his big league career.
“He has a great arm, a powerful arm,” said Anthopoulos. “We’ll see that he gets a little more into the attacking zone. But the fact of the matter is that he’s got great talent. He has starting experience. He’s a good character to try.”
The 23-year-old Vodnik was 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA in 30 assists for Double-A Mississippi. The 25-year-old Gordon has split this season between Triple-A Gwinnett and Mississippi, coming 5-9 in 17 games with a 5.86 ERA.
“It’s always difficult to part with young people,” said Anthopoulos. “But you have to give up talent to get a man like Pierce Johnson of his ability.”
The trades followed another cautious pitching move Sunday when the Braves acquired right-hander Yonny Chirinos from waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays.
The 29-year-old Chirinos went 4-4 with a 4.02 ERA in 15 appearances for Tampa Bay, including four starts. He had 31 strikeouts and 20 walks in 62 2/3 innings.
The Braves could make more moves before the August 1 deadline, especially if they can add another starting pitcher and maybe a little more infield depth.
Due to injuries, Atlanta was only without three regulars for most of the season – Spencer Strider, Bryce Elder and Charlie Morton Ace Max Fried (Load on the left forearm) and right-handers Kyle Wrighta 21-game winner in 2022.
Fried faces another rehab effort Wednesday, which could be his last before rejoining the Braves squad. Wright has made just five starts this season, the most recent being on May 3, and his return from a right shoulder sore is not expected until September.
“The biggest challenge is that we’ll be ready as soon as the first of August comes and goes,” said Anthopoulos. “You know this is the last attempt to protect yourself from what may or may not happen.”
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