The Braves on Thursday placed A.J. Minter on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation.
The team recalled right-hander Jimmy Herget as the corresponding move.
“I think it’s been bothering him,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said before Thursday’s game against the Nationals. “I don’t think it was just something that started (Wednesday), but he just came in and said it was enough that it was concerning to him, I think, that he couldn’t get on his legs really well. And after they looked at him and said it was something that was going to take a little more than just staying away from him for two or three days. So we’re trying to take care of it.”
When asked if Minter would be ready when the 15 days were up, Snitker said the Braves will evaluate how he handles the treatment and view this as a “day-to-day thing.”
“I just think it’s something that obviously it bothered him for him to say something and then when they found the inflammation, they looked at him and it was enough that warranted a longer stint than just staying away from him for a weekend or something like that,” Snitker said.
This season, Minter has a 2.95 ERA over 21-1/3 innings across 25 appearances. In Wednesday’s loss, he threw a scoreless inning in which he struck out one batter and worked around a hit and a walk.
Since allowing a walk-off homer to Brandon Nimmo in New York on May 12, Minter has thrown 4-2/3 scoreless innings.
In two appearances for the Braves thus far, Herget – acquired from the Angels in early May – has tossed three scoreless frames. He was optioned to make room on the 26-man roster for rookie pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach, who started Wednesday’s game.
Minter is one of the Braves’ late-inning relievers, someone who often is used as its setup man. The lefty hasn’t pitched before the seventh inning this year.
Without Minter, the Braves still have closer Raisel Iglesias, and right-handers Pierce Johnson and Joe Jiménez as late-inning options. Left-hander Dylan Lee might have to pitch later in games on some nights.
The Braves have dealt with more than their fair share of injuries, considering it’s only the end of May.
Ronald Acuña Jr. (torn ACL) and Spencer Strider (elbow surgery) are out for the season. Sean Murphy was out for about two months with an oblique strain. Austin Riley missed a couple of weeks with intercostal inflammation. Ozzie Albies fractured his toe and was out for a week.
Now, Minter, one of the team’s important relievers, is on the injured list.
Schwellenbach seems likely to make another start with Braves
It seems Schwellenbach will get another start with the Braves after allowing three runs over five innings in his MLB debut on Wednesday.
“He’s still here,” Snitker said when asked about this. “If he’s around here, we’ll probably pitch him.”
Snitker added the caveat that “a lot can happen between now” and when Schwellenbach is lined up to pitch again.
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