Braves Lose Important Reliever to Elbow Inflammation on the Injured List.

It’s not by choice that the Atlanta Braves are rearranging their bullpen.
To strengthen their bullpen, the Atlanta Braves are making a roster move.

Pierce Johnson, a reliever, has elbow irritation, and the team stated today that he would be placed on the fifteen-day injured list retroactive to May 1.

The late-game lineup for Atlanta is a little different now that Johnson is on the injured list. Johnson has made thirteen appearances this season, going 1-2 with a 3.0 ERA and one save overall. Pitching in the sixth, seventh, or eighth innings, the curveball specialist has most often picked up three holds while bridging to A.J. Minter, the setup man, and Raisel Iglesias, the closer.
The late game plan lost one high-leverage reliever due to Johnson’s absence. With Johnson out of the picture, Joe Jiménez (1.30 ERA, 8-8 on holds) will be under the most pressure because he is now the best reliever outside of Minter and Iglesias’ last combination.

Here, Jesse Chavez is likely to receive more important assignments. He has been utilized mostly as Atlanta’s long man this season—four of his eight outings have lasted longer than an inning—but he can now delegate that job to Jackson Stephens and go back to using the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings as a bridge to the back end of the bullpen as he did prior to the injury.

Before suffering a shin fracture on June 14th, while facing Detroit Tigers DH Miguel Cabrera’s comebacker, Chavez had a 1.55 ERA in thirty appearances, thirteen holds, and a save.

Pierce Johnson’s right elbow irritation puts him on a 15-day IL.
Fearsome injury claims a crucial reliever for the Braves.

One of the Braves’ greatest relievers, Pierce Johnson, was placed on the disabled list on Saturday afternoon, which was devastating news for the team:
After acquiring Johnson during the trade deadline in the previous summer, Atlanta signed him to a two-year, $14 million contract this winter. The Braves projected him to be one of their greatest relievers, and he has performed admirably in that role. Johnson has thrown 12 innings thus far this season, recording a 3.00 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 12 strikeouts per nine innings, and 3 walks per nine innings. Thus, the Braves lose one of their greatest relievers right away, and pitching elbow injuries are very scary.
In order to free up space on the 40-man roster, the Braves placed Angel Perdomo on the 60-day injured list and recalled Jackson Stephens to replace Johnson on the active roster.