The Atlanta Braves, who aim to win a championship every year, are currently struggling to even make the playoffs. After losing seven of their last eight games in July, they are barely holding onto the final Wild Card spot in the National League, with only a half-game lead over the New York Mets.
The Braves’ pitching staff, which was a strength in the first half of the season, is now facing challenges. Injuries to starters Max Fried and Reynaldo López, combined with a bullpen collapse during the series against the Colorado Rockies, have worsened their situation.
Adding to their difficulties, the Braves will now have to cope with the loss of one of their key relievers. On Monday, the team placed left-handed reliever A.J. Minter on the 15-day injured list due to hip inflammation. To fill his spot, they recalled fellow lefty Dylan Lee from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Minter’s hip issue is the same one that caused him to miss all of June. Despite this, he has been performing well recently, allowing just three earned runs in 13 innings since July began. For the season, Minter has a solid 2.62 ERA and has been a reliable lefty in high-leverage situations.
Fortunately for the Braves, Dylan Lee has also been effective, with a 2.00 ERA in 35 appearances this season, though he has rarely been used in high-pressure situations.
The Braves’ bullpen is already short on depth, so managing without Minter will be challenging. It would be beneficial for Atlanta’s potent offense to step up, as they have only scored 96 runs in the second half of the season, tied for ninth in the NL.
