The Braves optioned right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver to Triple-A Gwinnett after Sunday’s win over the Reds. The team announced the move on Monday.
Smith-Shawver was scheduled to start in the finale of a three-game series against the Twins at Truist Park on Wednesday. The decision to option Smith-Shawver wasn’t performance related. The team needed a fresh bullpen arm after its pitching was taxed during a hectic weekend series in Cincinnati, and recalled Dereck Rodriguez.
“We just want to keep him regular,” manager Brian Snitker said of Smith-Shawver. “We needed help in the bullpen, so move an optionable piece. He’ll pitch on his regular time and it’ll be good for him.”
Only 20 years old, Smith-Shawver has found immediate success in the majors. He had a 2.03 ERA over his first three starts before getting tagged for five earned runs across 3-1/3 innings against the Reds. He’d given up 10 hits and eight earned runs in nine innings over his past two starts.
The move could clear the way for Michael Soroka to return to the majors and make the start. He would be on regular rest after making his last start for Gwinnett on Thursday. “We’re still working on it,” Snitker said when asked about Wednesday’s starter. Soroka, of course, is already on the 40-man roster. He pitched 9-2/3 innings across two starts earlier this season.
Soroka tossed 6-2/3 no-hit innings for Gwinnett in Game 2 of a Triple-A doubleheader on Thursday at Coolray Field. The games were seven innings each since it was a doubleheader. Soroka (3-2) was one out away from a no-hitter but allowed a solo home run. He finished the complete game, allowing just the one hit, with nine strikeouts and two walks. He recorded his fourth consecutive quality start and fifth of the season with Gwinnett.
Notes:
- Catcher Sean Murphy returned to the lineup Sunday after being briefly sidelined with a tweaked hamstring. He went 2-for-4 with a walk. But the Braves gave Murphy some additional rest Monday when he was absent from the lineup for the series opener against Minnesota. Travis d’Arnaud started at catcher.
“He felt good (after playing Sunday),” Snitker said. “We’ll get him back in there (Tuesday). We’re just going to be aware.” Snitker added they’ll ease Murphy back into the daily mix. If Murphy catches Tuesday, the team has a day game Wednesday then an off day Thursday that’d give him additional rest entering the weekend series against the surprising second-place Marlins.
- Snitker on Murphy and d’Arnaud, the catching duo that’s amazed MLB:
“It’s probably the best catching duo in the game, in my opinion. And as we see, if one guy goes down, that other guy can step right in and carry the load. It’s a really unique situation when you have two such talented and good people and such good players in one group.”
Braves catchers lead MLB in average (.280), on-base percentage (.365) and slugging (.500). The position has produced a 3.7 fWAR, well ahead of the second-highest total (2.7, Texas).
- The Braves entered Monday with a plus-107 run differential, 60 runs better than the second-best mark in the National League (47, Dodgers). The other NL teams with a positive run differential: Giants: (+45), Diamondbacks (+36), Cubs (+32) and Padres (+31).
