The Atlanta Braves got walked off by the Padres on Tuesday, but Wednesday morning brought some good news for a bullpen that’s been stretched thin. Right-hander Tyler Kinley is back from the injured list, and the team made a couple of other moves to shake up the roster before the series finale in San Diego.
The Braves announced that Kinley has been reinstated. To make room, they sent JR Ritchie down to Triple-A Gwinnett. They also selected righty Ian Hamilton onto the major league roster and designated Carlos Carrasco for assignment. That’s a lot of roster shuffling for one day, but it tells you where the Braves think they need help right now.
Kinley has been solid when healthy. This season he’s got a 3.18 ERA across 31 appearances, throwing 28.1 innings with 31 strikeouts and a 4-2 record. That’s the kind of dependable arm the Braves need in the middle innings, especially with how tight some of these recent games have been. The Padres series alone has been a grind, and the bullpen could use fresh arms.
But the big picture for Atlanta is still about who’s not there. Ronald Acuña Jr. is dealing with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, his second one since May. He didn’t travel with the team for this road trip, which runs through June 28, and he’s not expected back for the series against the Giants either. MLB.com reported Tuesday that a return after the All-Star break looks more realistic. The Braves are being cautious with him, and frankly they have to be.
Acuña’s absence leaves a hole in the lineup and the outfield. But the pitching staff has its own issues, and getting Kinley back is a step toward stabilizing things. It’s not a headline-grabbing move, but those midseason bullpen reinforcements matter over 162 games.
As for Carrasco, being designated for assignment means the Braves are moving on from the veteran righty. He had a rough go of it in Atlanta, and the numbers didn’t justify keeping him on the 40-man roster. Hamilton getting the call is a chance for him to prove he can help at the big league level.
The Braves still have questions to answer. But at least for now, they’ve got one more arm they trust in the bullpen.
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