The Atlanta Braves are looking to piece together their starting rotation as they face a formidable injury crisis, with all five of their Opening Day starters currently on the injured list. In a significant move to bolster their pitching staff, the Braves have acquired right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who is set to make his team debut on Thursday against the Cincinnati Reds.
Carrasco, recently acquired from the New York Yankees for cash considerations, will take the mound for the Braves in the series opener. He has a 5.91 ERA over 32 innings pitched across eight games (six starts) this season with the Yankees. After being designated for assignment in May, he posted a 3.27 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) for Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre. His performance will be closely watched as the Braves search for a consistent fifth starter to bridge the gap until Chris Sale and Spencer Schwellenbach return from the 60-day injured list. The recent placement of Grant Holmes on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation further highlights the Braves’ urgent need for pitching depth.
Meanwhile, the Braves’ ace, Spencer Strider, will take the mound in a highly anticipated event this Saturday. Strider is slated to pitch when the Braves and Reds face off at the Bristol Motor Speedway for the MLB Speedway Classic. This unique regular-season game marks the first time a National League or American League team will play a regular-season game in Tennessee, and it’s expected to set an MLB regular-season attendance record with over 85,000 spectators. Strider’s selection for this marquee event underscores his importance to the Braves’ rotation, even amidst an up-and-down season.The Braves’ rotation for the Reds series will also feature Bryce Elder, who is scheduled to pitch on Friday. The team recently acquired Erick Fedde from the St. Louis Cardinals in another attempt to address their pitching needs; Fedde made his team debut on Tuesday.Braves manager Brian Snitker acknowledged the challenging situation, stating, “We’re going to figure out a way to piece this thing together. That’s all you can do ’cause the games aren’t going to stop because we lost our rotation.” The Braves have seen Reynaldo López, AJ Smith-Shawver, Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Grant Holmes all sidelined with various injuries.As the Braves navigate this difficult period, the performances of Carrasco and Strider will be crucial in their efforts to remain competitive.
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