The Braves are closing in on another postseason berth and possible division crown.
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The Braves called up left-handed relief pitcher Bailey Falter on Wednesday and designated Elieser Hernández for assignment.
Falter will be making his Braves debut if and when he pitches for the team. He was acquired via trade, along with outfielder Lane Thomas, from the Royals on Aug. 2.
A California native, Falter last pitched for the Royals on May 26. He had been pitching for Triple-A Omaha, where he appeared in 17 games and made seven starts totaling 43 innings while going 2-1 with a 3.35 ERA, before being traded to the Braves.
With Triple-A Gwinnett, Falter made seven appearances and one start. He totaled 10.1 scoreless innings and struck out 11 hitters.
Falter made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Phillies and also pitched for the Pirates before joining the Royals.
Hernández allowed two solo home runs in two innings during Tuesday's loss to the Rays.
On Wednesday, the Braves claimed pitcher Ricky Vanasco off waivers from the Tigers. Vanasco had been designated for assignment by the Tigers on Monday.
A 27-year-old right-hander, Vanasco pitched in five games for the Tigers this season and allowed 11 earned runs in 6⅓ innings. Vanasco also spent time with the Tigers in 2024 as well as the Dodgers that season.
Vanasco was a 15th-round draft pick by the Rangers in 2017.
The Braves have optioned Vanasco to Triple-A Gwinnett.
The Braves on Sunday designated left-handed reliever Danny Young for assignment.
Young has an ERA of 8.03 in 16 games for the Braves this season since joining the team July 3. In his last four outings, he allowed nine earned runs in 3⅔ innings, including three in the Braves' 10-3 loss to the Diamondbacks on Saturday at Truist Park.
To take Young's place, the Braves called up Ray Kerr from Triple-A Gwinnett. Kerr has pitched in three games for Gwinnett this season and has allowed two runs in three innings. He has also appeared in games for Double-A Columbus and Single-A Rome.
The 31-year-old right-hander has appeared in 39 MLB games.
After Monday's trade deadline, and ahead of Tuesday's resumption of the season, the Braves made several roster moves.
Catcher Sean Murphy was reinstated from the injured list. Murphy has been out with a broken finger since May and had been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett. The Braves traded catcher Joey Bart on Monday to clear room for Murphy's return.
Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, on a rehab assignment after reinjuring his finger in June, was also reinstated. The Braves designated shortstop Jorge Mateo for assignment to make room for Kim.
The club also optioned relief pitcher James Karinchak and starting pitcher JR Ritchie to Triple-A Gwinnett. Outfielder Lane Thomas, right-handed pitcher Tyler Mahle and left-handed pitcher Brent Suter, all acquired via trade since Saturday, have reported to the Braves.
Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo López has been placed on the 15-day injured list, the Braves announced Sunday.
López was scratched from Saturday's start because of left knee inflammation. López is 4-3 with a 3.64 ERA this season.
The Braves recalled right-hander JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett. Ritchie was scheduled to start Sunday's series finale against the Nationals.
Kyle Farmer is back with the Braves.
Six days after being released by the club, Farmer signed a minor league deal with the Braves on Monday. He's on the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers' roster listed as a designated hitter.
Farmer played in just 12 games after making the team out of spring training on a split contract. The 35-year-old had four hits, three RBIs and a .267 batting average in his limited opportunities.
In mid-May, Farmer went on the 10-day injured list with what the club called a right forearm strain. He was sent on a rehab assignment in late June to Double-A Columbus and was asked to play catcher. He recorded two hits in 20 at-bats before rejoining the Braves on July 4.
AJ Smith-Shawver will start the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mets at Citi Field.
It will be the first MLB appearance for Smith-Shawver who has been on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett. Smith-Shawver pitched 10⅔ innings over three games with Triple-A Gwinnett and had a 1.69 ERA over those three outings.
The Braves have also added reliever Elieser Hernández to the roster after optioning left-handed pitcher Connor Thomas to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Correction: This entry has been updated to correct the spelling of AJ Smith-Shawver.
Hours after playing a vital role in the Braves' 7-6, 10-inning win over the Orioles in Baltimore on Friday, Elieser Hernández was designated for assignment.
The right-handed reliever, making his Braves debut and first MLB appearance since 2024, threw three scoreless innings to keep the Braves in a game they eventually tied in the eighth, then won in the 10th with four runs. Hernández earned a win for his efforts, his first since August 2022.
Taking Hernández's roster spot is left-handed reliever Connor Thomas. Thomas has made one appearance for the Braves this season, allowing four earned runs on five hits during a 12-4 loss to the Pirates in Pittsburgh on July 7.
Thomas has a 1.98 ERA in 12 appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett.
Braves catcher Sean Murphy will begin a rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Gwinnett, the Gwinnett Stripers announced Thursday.
Murphy has been out since May 10 when he had his finger broken during a game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Murphy had already missed more than a month of the season at the outset in making his way back from offseason hip surgery.
In four games with the Braves, Murphy was 1-for-14 at the plate with six strikeouts.
Gwinnett is at home Friday hosting the Iowa Cubs.
On Sunday, the Braves optioned pitcher Owen Murphy to Triple-A Gwinnett and called up Elieser Hernández from Triple-A.
Murphy made his first MLB start Saturday in the Braves' 7-6 loss to the Rangers at Truist Park. In three appearances with the big-league club, Murphy had a 4.05 ERA over 6⅔ innings.
Hernández has pitched in 20 games for Triple-A Gwinnett and made 11 starts. The right-hander has a 4.83 ERA and 1.51 WHIP over 76⅓ innings.
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