MIAMI – Struggling reliever Chaz Roe went on the Braves’ 10-day disabled list Wednesday, and former first-round draft pick Jason Hursh was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to take his place.
Roe, who had a 9.00 ERA and .300 opponents’ average in three appearances, was diagnosed with a strained lat muscle on his right side. The right-hander gave up three hits and four runs (two earned) with a hit batter and two walks in two innings, after having an inconsistent spring training.
“He was hurting a little bit in spring training,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It was a lat thing, hadn’t gotten any better, pretty much. Something he felt after his last outing (Friday at Pittsburgh). We kind of hoped with the off day (Monday) treat him, come in, play catch, see how you are, and it’s just not getting any better.
“So it’s better just to give him a week and try to get him back good.”
Roe, 30, was a pleasant surprise for the Braves after they claimed him off waivers Aug. 7 from the Orioles. The rail-thin, 6-foot-5 Kentucky native had a 3.60 ERA in 21 appearances for the Braves in 2016, allowing no home runs and seven walks with 26 strikeouts in 20 innings.
He came to spring training out of minor league options, meaning the Braves had to keep him on the roster or get him through waivers if they wanted to send him to the minors.
Hursh, 25, pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings in two relief appearances this season at Gwinnett, allowing three hits and no walks with four strikeouts. He made his major league debut for the Braves last season when he pitched in two games and gave up four hits, five runs and three walks in just 1 1/3 innings (33.75 ERA).
The 31st selection in the 2013 draft out of Oklahoma State, Hursh was a starter before being converted to reliever during his third minor league season in 2015.
The right-hander had a 1.97 ERA in 43 relief appearances in Double-A and Triple-A in 2016, totaling 50 strikeouts with 31 walks but no home runs allowed in 73 innings.
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