MIAMI – With rookie Shae Simmons' return this season looking increasingly doubtful, the Braves recalled sidearmer Gus Schloser from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday to give them another arm in the bullpen.
Simmons has been on the 15-day disabled list for five weeks with a strained pitching shoulder and hasn’t returning to throwing off the mound since having a setback in his rehab in mid-August. The Braves don’t think he has anything more serious than inflammation, but they’re being careful with Simmons, a power arm and a solid prospect.
“You can carry as many as you want, so why not have another guy?” Braves manage Fredi Gonzalez said, referring to expanded September rosters for major league teams. “I think Simmons is going to take a little longer time that we expected, so we said, you know what, let’s just bring him up. We were hoping Shae Simmons was going to fill that (role), but it’s going to take a little more time, so let’s just bring Schlosser up in case we play one of those crazy (long extra-inning games).
Schlosser, a 25-year-old rookie, had a 4.50 ERA in 10 relief appearances earlier in the season with the Braves, with six strikeouts, four walks and seven hits allowed in 12 innings. The right-hander pitched in starting and relief roles at Gwinnett and went 7-6 with a 4.17 ERA in 25 games (15 starts), with 70 strikeouts and 48 walks in 99 1/3 innings.
