Heading into the All-Star break with a six-game lead in the National League East, Braves manager Brian Snitker wasn't quite sure how his squad would come out to start the second half.
But a three-game sweep of the Padres in San Diego had Snitker feeling pretty good about his team Monday as it prepared to open a three-game set against the Brewers at Miller Park.
“You go into a break like that and you get out and you really aren’t sure where you’re going to be," Snitker said. "Are we still on break? Are we ready to go? Those guys showed they are ready to go and had enough rest and wanted to get after it again.”
Two of those victories in San Diego featured some late-inning heroics. The Braves scored five runs over the final four innings -- including three in the 10th -- of a 7-5 victory Saturday and four more in the the eighth inning on their 4-1 victory Sunday.
"If we can just minimize damage and stay close, we’ve got a chance late in the game," Snitker said. "The way they keep fighting, keep grinding at-bat after at-bat, they are always giving themselves a chance. It’s not going to happen all of the time but for the most part I always feel good if we’ve got an at-bat left we’ve got a chance.”
Webb lands on injured list
The Braves placed righthander Jacob Webb on the 10-day injured list Monday with an impingement in his right shoulder.
“He felt it after his last outing," Snitker said. "He only threw five pitches, but he woke up and it was tight. I’m glad he didn’t try to pitch through it."
Webb, a 25-year-old rookie who was the Braves' 18th-round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, has played a big role in the bullpen this season. In 36 appearances, he’s 4-0 with a 1.39 ERA while striking out 28 with a 1.113 WHIP in 32 1/3 innings of work.
"Hopefully, at the end of this he’ll be good to go," Snitker said.
Right-hander Huascar Ynoa was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill Webb's spot on the active roster.
Ynoa, 21, has pitched at three levels of the Braves' system this season, going 3-5 with a 4.87 ERA in 18 appearances (10 starts). He got his first taste of big league action earlier this season and worked two scoreless innings in his lone appearance for the Braves back on June 16.
With a powerful fastball that approaches triple-digits and biting slider that can keep batters at bay, he made a good impression on Snitker during his brief stint with the Braves.
“I really like the kid," Snitker said. "He’s got a big arm. He’s another young guy that when he gets his command he has the pitches. He’s very impressive. His last couple outings at Triple-A were really good. He’s a young guy that we’ve just got to keep pitching. He’s upside is huge with that arm.”
Edner Inciarte, meanwhile, is expected to start Monday night for Gwinnett as he works his way back from a back injury that's left him sidelined since mid-May.
Wilson to start Tuesday
Snitker said righthander Bryse Wilson will get the start in Tuesday’s game two of the series.
Wilson is 1-0 with a 6.14 ERA in four appearances for the Braves this season, including three starts. His lone victory came in his last appearance, holding the Phillies to a pair of runs over six innings on July 3. He was optioned to Gwinnett a day later.
