Tommy Milone, the starting pitcher acquired by the Braves near the trade deadline, was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with what the team described as left elbow inflammation.
Milone went on the IL one day after allowing eight runs on eight hits in 3-1/3 innings against the Miami Marlins. The Braves ultimately won that game 29-9.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said he wasn’t aware of any issue with Milone’s elbow until after the left-hander left Wednesday’s game.
Trainer George Poulis "came down and said (Milone) had some stiffness in his elbow,” Snitker said. “That was the first I had heard of it.
“I hate it for him. He has been here a short time, but he just seems like a pro and an easy guy to like and pull for.”
In three starts with the Braves since he was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 30 for two players to be named later, Milone has allowed 22 hits (four homers) and 16 runs in 9-2/3 innings, which comes to a 14.90 ERA.
To replace Milone on the roster, the Braves recalled right-handed pitcher Huascar Ynoa for another stint with the big-league team.
Milone’s struggles and injury continue the season-long attrition that has decimated the Braves' starting rotation. A torn Achilles tendon ended Mike Soroka’s season. Ineffectiveness sent Mike Foltynewicz and Sean Newcomb to the alternate training camp at Gwinnett. Cole Hamels hasn’t pitched in a game yet because of shoulder and triceps injuries. Felix Hernandez opted out of the season. And this week Max Fried went on the 10-day injured list with what the team described as a left-side muscle spasm in his lumbar spine.
“We were one of the best teams in baseball last year, so when stuff like this happens, nobody feels sorry for you,” pitcher Josh Tomlin, scheduled to start Friday’s game at Washington, said Thursday. "We’re just taking the mentality of next-man-up and how-can-we-win-today.”
Hamels was scheduled to throw in a scrimmage at Gwinnett on Thursday night. Snitker said the Braves will see how the veteran left-hander feels Friday “and proceed from there." The Braves hope there’s a chance Hamels could make his season debut next week. “Definitely, it could proceed in that direction," Snitker said, but there are no guarantees.
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