MILWAUKEE — The Braves claimed reliever Pedro Beato off waivers from the Reds and will add him to the 25-man roster before Friday’s series opener at Washington. They’ll make a corresponding roster move Thursday or Friday to open a roster spot for Beato, who had a 3.60 ERA in 10 appearances with the Boston Red Sox in 2013.
Beato, 27, was 4-2 with a 4.55 ERA in 81 career appearances in parts of three seasons with the Mets and Red Sox, with 56 strikeouts and 34 walks in 89 innings. He made 60 of those appearances in 2011 for the Mets, posting a 4.30 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 67 innings.
After being claimed off waivers by the Reds on Oct. 31, Beato pitched in nine games during spring training and had a 3.00 ERA, allowing 11 hits, three runs and one walk with five strikeouts in nine innings.
The Braves began the season with an eight-man bullpen that has three rookies with no previous major league experience, including left-hander Ryan Buchter, who was recalled a week after being sent to Triple-A. He was brought back after reliever Cory Gearrin injured his elbow in the last week of spring training.
Buchter didn’t pitch in the season-opening Milwaukee series, but other two rookie relievers, Gus Schlosser and lefty Ian Thomas, both debuted against the Brewers and drew praise from manager Fredi Gonzalez. The Braves have three left-handers with standout Luis Avilan and rookies Thomas and Buchter, making it likely that a lefty could be moved to open a spot for Beato.
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