Three days after the Braves traded for veteran pitcher Josh Collmenter, he will start Saturday’s game against the Nationals.
Collmenter, 30, came from the Cubs in a Wednesday trade for cash. The right-hander will fill in Saturday for Mike Foltynewicz, who is recovering well from a calf contusion and could return to the rotation at some point next week.
In six seasons with Arizona, Collmenter had a 36-33 record and 3.54 ERA in 200 games (75 starts), with 460 strikeouts and 157 walks in 659 1/3 innings. He was the Diamondbacks’ opening day starter in 2015.
He began the 2016 season on the disabled list for shoulder inflammation, and Arizona’s offseason pitching additions relegated him to a bullpen role upon returning. Collmenter had a 4.84 ERA in 15 relief appearances for the Diamondbacks, with 17 strikeouts and 11 walks in 22 1/3 innings, before being released.
He was 1-1 with a 4.06 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) in the minor leagues this season, including 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in four starts for the Cubs’ Triple-A Iowa affiliate after signing a minor league deal.
In his last start Sept. 3 against Colorado Springs, Collmenter allowed six hits and one run in five innings, with one walk and three strikeouts.
