The Braves signed free agent left-handed pitcher Ross Detwiler on Friday. They sent Jake Brigham to Triple-A Gwinnett to make room on the roster.
Detwiler, 29, was released by the Rangers on Wednesday. He began the season as a starter and was 0-5 with a 6.95 ERA through seven outings. Texas then moved him to the bullpen, where he compiled a 7.71 ERA with 14 hits, five walks and six strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings.
He spent the previous six years with the Nationals, bouncing between the rotation and the bullpen en route to a 3.83 ERA. During that time he pitched 64 2/3 innings against the Braves, with a 3.06 ERA.
“He was a guy that pitched against us a lot in Washington and did really, really well against us,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “We’re going to use him out of the bullpen because we feel like he could help us out of there. So we’ll see what happens.”
Detwiler likely will be a lefty specialist for the Braves, as his numbers this season against righties are scary — .379, 18 walks to 17 strikeouts. His numbers against lefites are much nicer on the eyes — .220, 11 strikeouts to two walks.
This move comes one day after the Braves signed veteran reliever Jason Frasor. Both arms add much-needed bullpen depth after Jason Grilli’s season-ending injury in Colorado.
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