JR Ritchie to start Wednesday’s game against the Cubs
CHICAGO — JR Ritchie will rejoin the Braves and start for the club Wednesday against the Cubs, Braves manager Walt Weiss announced Monday.
Ritchie is 6-4 with a 3.17 ERA in 16 starts with Triple-A Gwinnett this season and 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 14 appearances (eight starts) with the Braves. In his last six starts with Gwinnett, Ritchie had a 2.14 ERA over 33⅔ innings.
On Sept. 16, Ritchie struck out 15 hitters in 6⅔ innings for Gwinnett.
Ritchie will be starting the finale of a three-game series against the Cubs. Martín Pérez is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game, and the club has an off-day Thursday before opening a three-game series in Houston against the Astros on Friday.
Starter Reynaldo López is expected to be placed on the 15-day injured list and starter Bryce Elder is already out with a knee injury. Owen Murphy, who has made 18 starts at Triple-A Gwinnett this season, was called up Monday and AJ Smith-Shawver, also viewed as a starter, threw five innings of relief in Monday’s loss at Wrigley Field.
Ritchie last pitched for the Braves on Aug. 2.