MINNEAPOLIS – Julio Teheran won’t require a stint on the 15-day disabled list for the back soreness that caused an early exit from his last start, but the Braves will push back his next start two days.
The All-Star pitcher will make his next Saturday instead of Thursday, which will give Teheran a full week of rest between starts. The Braves were able to adjust the rotation easily after having an off day in the schedule Monday before their two-game series against the Twins.
“We’re going to back him up to Saturday, just to not take any chances,” Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said before Tuesday night’s series opener at Minnesota’s Target Field. “And he said he felt a lot better today, just flat-ground throwing a little bit, more confident in turning everything loose. I think it’s a good idea — since we had the option to do that — to take advantage of it.”
Matt Wisler will start Thursday’s home-series opener against the Phillies, and Tyrell Jenkins will start Friday, each of them on regular (four days’) rest after pitching the last two games at Colorado over the weekend. Teheran will start Saturday and Lucas Harrell will start Sunday’s finale of the four-game series against the Phillies.
Harrell also will pitch on regular rest after starting Tuesday night against the Twins.
Teheran left Friday’s start at Colorado in the fifth inning with tightness in the latissimus dorsi muscle region behind his shoulder. He felt good when he played catch Sunday and said he still hoped to make his Thursday start, but also said at the time that he would understand if the Braves pushed it back.
He ramped things up a bit Tuesday when he did some strenuous flat-ground throwing from a 120-foot distance and threw his slider to test things out.
“Everything was OK, did not bother me at all,” Teheran said. “Way better (than the first couple of days after the injury). Today I got to throw a little bit longer, and put a little more on the (velocity), and it feels pretty good. More normal.”
But he didn’t throw off a mound, which he would have done if he was going to pitch Thursday.
“I’m fine with (pushed back the start),” Teheran said. “I know whatever we’re doing is trying to take care of me and trying to take care for the next year and days to come. I think it’s a good idea.”
