Braves' Michael Harris: Confident in mid-August return
Rotowire
Harris (hamstring) said Friday that he is confident that he will be able to return by Aug. 14, which is when he is eligible to reinstated from the 60-day injured list, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Harris was transferred to the 60-day IL on Wednesday due to his slow rehab progress for his strained left hamstring. He's been on the injured list since June 15, and while he hasn't been cleared to do full sprints, he has been running in short bursts, per David O'Brien of The Athletic. Prior to his injury, Harris was slashing .250/.295/.358 with eight stolen bases, five home runs and 20 RBI across 278 plate appearances.
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Braves' Sean Murphy: Not in Friday's lineup
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Murphy is absent from the lineup for Friday's contest versus the Mets.
Travis d'Arnaud has started each of the first two games of the series against the Mets and has made four starts to Murphy's three since the start of the second half. Murphy had two hits in his last start Wednesday but before that had been hitless across his last five contests.
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Braves' Pierce Johnson: Stuck with loss Thursday
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Johnson (3-2) took the loss Thursday as Atlanta fell 3-2 in 10 innings to the Mets, giving up an unearned run on a hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two.
The right-hander did his job, fanning J.D. Martinez and Mark Vientos before coaxing a flyball from Jeff McNeil down the right-field line for what should have been the third out, but Ramon Laureano over-ran it and let it fall in for a single, allowing the automatic runner to score from second base. Johnson has been charged with an earned run in only one of his last 11 appearances, posting a 0.82 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB through 11 innings over that stretch while picking up two holds and a win. A.J. Minter's return from the IL has squeezed Johnson out of consistent setup work, but he remains one of Atlanta's most effective bullpen arms.
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Braves' Ramon Laureano: Rough day in extra-inning loss
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Laureano went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base in Thursday's extra-inning loss to the Mets.
Getting the start in right field and batting eighth, Laureano swiped his fourth bag of the season and crossed the plate in the second inning with Atlanta's first run of the night, but it was his 10th inning that will linger in the minds of fans. Beginning the frame at second base as the automatic runner, Laureano advanced to third with one out but then got caught in a rundown between third and home after Jarred Kelenic couldn't make contact with the pitch on a suicide squeeze play. Laureano then ended the game on defense by over-running a Jeff McNeil flyball down the right-field line, allowing Jose Iglesias to score from second on what was ruled a single. Adam Duvall has a tepid .630 OPS in July with a 3:19 BB:K in 18 games while seeing the bulk of the action in right field, but Laureano didn't make a compelling case Thursday to cut into his playing time.
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Braves' Chris Sale: Fans nine in no-decision
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Sale did not factor into the decision in an extra-inning loss to the Mets on Thursday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over 7.1 innings while striking out nine.
Sale was efficient during the contest, with the exception of the third inning when he left a sinker hanging over the plate for Francisco Lindor to launch into the stands in center field for a two-run shot. The veteran lefty then retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced before being relieved by Joe Jimenez with one out in the eighth. Sale has now given up two or fewer runs in eight consecutive starts, while the home run surrendered to Lindor was the first long ball he's allowed in July. Sale has also posted at least nine strikeouts in four of his last five outings.
Duvall isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Thursday's game versus the Mets.
Duvall will get a chance to regroup Thursday after he went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts during Wednesday's loss to the Reds. His absence will allow Ramon Laureano to pick up a start in right field while batting eighth.
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Braves' Sean Murphy: Sitting down Thursday
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Murphy isn't in Atlanta's lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets.
Murphy will get a breather after going 2-for-4 during Wednesday's game against the Reds, allowing Travis d'Arnaud to catch for lefty Chris Sale during Thursday's series opener.
Atlanta recalled Hernandez from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Hernandez was technically optioned earlier Thursday after serving as the 27th man for Atlanta in Wednesday's doubleheader against the Reds. He never actually left the team, though, and will be back in the bullpen as a middle-relief option.
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Braves' Zack Short: Booted from 40-man roster
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Atlanta designated Short for assignment Thursday.
Short's opportunities in Atlanta were few and far between, and he did little with what he was given, producing just a .478 OPS in 29 games. It's possible that the 29-year-old will draw some interest on waivers due to his defensive versatility.
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Braves' Austin Riley: Reinstated from paternity leave
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Atlanta activated Riley (personal) from the paternity list Thursday.
Because of a pair of rainouts, Riley missed just one game while spending the maximum three days away from the team on paternity leave. He'll be back in the lineup for Atlanta's series opener Thursday against the Mets.
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Braves' Zach Logue: Optioned to Gwinnett
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Atlanta optioned Logue to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Logue's contract was selected from Gwinnett in preparation for Wednesday's twin bill against the Reds, but the second game was rained out, so the 28-year-old will now return to Triple-A without appearing in a game. He'll keep his spot on the 40-man roster, however, and he could still be called upon to provide Atlanta with a fresh bullpen arm after posting a 3.08 ERA in 73 minor-league innings.
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Braves' Daysbel Hernandez: Sent back to Gwinnett
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Atlanta returned Hernandez to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.
Hernandez was named as Atlanta's 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader but was not needed, as the nightcap was postponed due to rain. The 27-year-old right-hander has thrown 9.2 scoreless innings while striking out 12 batters during his time in the majors this season and owns a 2.48 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 29 frames in Triple-A.
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Braves' Chris Sale: Atlanta-Cincinnati postponed
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Sale won't start the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Reds after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Atlanta.
Rain prevented Sale from starting as originally scheduled Tuesday, and poor weather conditions will now prevent Atlanta and Cincinnati from concluding Wednesday's twin bill. The game has been rescheduled for Sept. 9. Per David O'Brien of The Athletic, Sale is slated to take the hill Thursday against the Mets at Citi Field for what will be his first start since the All-Star break.
Atlanta selected Logue's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
In 18 Triple-A appearances (11 starts), Logue has posted a 3.08 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 69:20 K:BB over 73 innings. He'll now be called upon to provide extra depth for Atlanta's bullpen during the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Cincinnati. Allan Winans was optioned to Gwinnett to clear space on the active roster, and Michael Harris (hamstring) was moved to the 60-day injured list in order to free up a spot for Logue on the 40-man roster.
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Braves' Daysbel Hernandez: Serving as 27th man for twin bill
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Atlanta recalled Hernandez from Triple-A Gwinnett ahead of the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with Cincinnati.
Hernandez has been designated as the 27th man for the twin bill, so he could be headed back to Gwinnett immediately following the doubleheader, unless Atlanta moves another player off the active roster. The right-hander has shined over his nine relief appearances for Atlanta this season, striking out 12 batters while allowing six hits and three walks over 9.2 scoreless innings.
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Braves' Allan Winans: Back to Triple-A after poor start
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Atlanta optioned Winans to Triple-A Gwinnett following its 9-4 loss to Cincinnati in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday.
Called up from Gwinnett earlier in the day to make his second start of the season with Atlanta in the opening game of the twin bill, Winans dropped to 0-2 after giving up seven earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 2.2 innings. Though Atlanta has a spot open in its rotation with Max Fried (forearm) on the injured list, Winans took himself out of consideration for another start after his rough showing Wednesday. Atlanta called up lefty Zach Logue from Gwinnett in a corresponding move to provide some length out of the bullpen for the second game of the doubleheader.
