With their bullpen weary from a recent heavy workload, the Braves recalled reliever Cory Gearrin from Triple-A Gwinnett for Sunday night's game against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Braves optioned outfielder Wilkin Ramirez back to Triple-A Gwinnett to open a roster spot.
Gearrin impressed team officials while posting a .158 opponents' average and 3.18 ERA in his first 10 major league appearances during a 3 1/2-week stint through May 17. He was optioned back to Gwinnett only because the Braves needed a roster spot for veteran reliever Scott Proctor.
"He was good," said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who smiled and added, "and he hasn't pitched in four days, so he can give us five or six innings [Sunday]."
Braves relievers worked 18 1/3 innings in three games over four days entering Sunday, including 8 2/3 innings of one-run ball from five relievers in Saturday’s 12-inning win over the Reds.
Jonny Venters, Scott Linebrink and Eric O'Flaherty all were "off-limits" for Sunday night's game, Gonzalez said. Venters and Linebrink worked two scoreless innings apiece Saturday, the fourth two-inning appearance for Venters in 11 days and the second in as many nights for Linebrink.
O'Flaherty had some lingering back tightness and was being rested for a second day as a precautionary measure. He's has a history of back problems and does an extensive daily stretching and conditioning regimen to keep the situation under control.
Rookie starting pitcher Mike Minor, who starts Tuesday, was sent to the bullpen late in Saturday's 12-inning game, in case the game continued much longer. On Sunday, he was told to skip his usual between-starts side session and be ready again in the bullpen.
Hot-hitting McCann rests
One day after his four-hit, two-homer game against the Reds, catcher Brian McCann was out of the starting lineup Sunday. And he was sitting against Reds right-handerJohnny Cueto whom he'd hit two home runs off of in six career at-bats.
But to the Braves and McCann, it’s about more than numbers. It’s about how he’s holding up behind the plate. And McCann and Gonzalez decided after he caught 12 innings in Saturday night’s win over the Reds, he needed the rest.
“He was pretty beat up last night,” said Gonzalez, who had originally planned to give McCann Monday’s day game off against the Padres. “…I don’t know if he was cramping yesterday or spasming in his back, but why take a chance on catching him today?”
McCann pointed out that after catching a long extra-inning game, his bat isn’t as quick as it would normally be the following day. He has caught 11 or more innings and played the next day four times this season. He’s hit a combined 3-for-17 (.176) the following day.
“I’m doing worse for the team,” he said.
Next step for Beachy
Braves starter Brandon Beachy could be back on the mound Monday for the first time since straining his left oblique 2-1/2 weeks ago.
"I think that's the plan," the rookie right-hander said.
The Braves haven’t announced a timetable for his return, but Beachy has made steady progress. He threw off flat ground from 150 feet Saturday without incident.
“Not cutting it loose, but not babying it, that’s for sure,” said Beachy, who hurt his side batting during a May 13 start. “It’s feeling good, but I feel like the second I push it a little too hard is the second I knock it a month back. We're being careful.”
He’s eager to return but knows it could be a few more weeks. He'll have to rebuild arm strength and make at least a couple of rehab starts before he's activated.
McLouth begins comeback
A week after straining his left oblique in Anaheim, Nate McLouth has begun doing some light baseball activities, starting with some throwing and running in batting practice on Sunday.
McLouth planned to begin taking some dry swings on Monday and working his way back with tee work, soft toss and eventually batting practice later in the week.
McLouth figures he’ll need a rehabilitation game or two in the minors, but if all progresses well, he is hopeful that he’s closer to needing the scheduled 15 days on the disabled list than the month or so often required for oblique strains.
He’s eligible to return as early as June 7 in Florida.
“I’m going to be really careful not to overextend myself and hurt it any more, while I’m on my way back," said McLouth. "I just want it to be good and be done and forget about it.”
Jordan Schafer is playing well in center field in McLouth's absence, so the Braves don't need him to rush it either.
McLouth injured his oblique checking his swing on a pitch in the dirt, something he still can’t quite figure out.
“That was the worst pain I’ve ever felt,” said McLouth, who said it felt like a knife jab in his side. “It was really, really weird too because I barely even offered at the ball. It was a little flinch at the ball. It was really bizarre.”
