The Atlanta Braves made another last-minute roster shuffle before Sunday’s series finale against the Mets, and this one stings a little more than the usual paper moves. Martin Perez is headed to the 15-day injured list with a left forearm contusion. That’s not a small thing for a team trying to hold off the Phillies and keep its division lead intact.
Perez took a comebacker off the arm in his last outing, and the swelling must have been bad enough that the Braves couldn’t wait any longer. So they called up right-hander Owen Murphy from the minors, brought back JR Ritchie, and designated Carlos Carrasco for assignment. Carrasco is 37 and has been around forever, but this might be the end of his run in Atlanta. The team hasn’t said anything official about that, but it feels like a roster crunch move with a longer-term message.
How the Injury Changes Things
The Braves are 52-36 and still sitting on top of the NL East. But they’ve dropped six of their last 10, and that’s not a crisis, but it’s not great either. Every little crack in the roster gets magnified when the schedule gets tougher, and Atlanta’s schedule doesn’t let up soon. Losing a starter for two weeks means the bullpen might have to absorb more innings, and that’s where things can get dicey fast.
Murphy now has a real shot. He’s not a guy who was expected to get this call this soon, but here he is. Ritchie is back too, and both of them are going to get a look in a division race that’s tightening. The Braves have good depth. But depth only matters if it actually performs under the lights.
The Mets Are in the Way
New York is 37-53 and sitting fifth in the division. They’ve lost seven of their last 10, so both teams come into this finale with some wobble in their step. The Braves have already taken two of the first four games, so winning this one would mean leaving Queens with some breathing room. Losing it makes the Perez news feel a little heavier than it should.
The Braves need some clean innings and a couple of timely hits. That’s the whole story for Sunday. Not every game has to be a statement. Sometimes you just need to get out of town with a series win and let the next guy step up.
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