Atlanta Braves option pitcher, prepare for another return

The Atlanta Braves reshuffled their pitching staff after their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team announced on its X account that the pitcher Daysbel Hernández was sent to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Hernandez is fired for the second time this season. In eight appearances with the Braves, he allowed no earned runs and struck out 11 batters in 8 2/3 innings pitched. Hernandez also has a 1.03 WHIP in the major leagues this season.

While it seems odd to send out a pitcher with a 0.00 ERA, there are several reasons for the decision.

The first, reported by Braves MLB dot com reporter Mark Bowman, is this reliever AJ Minter expected to be activated from the injured list on Monday. Hernandez also still has minor league options that the Braves can use to upgrade the roster.

Pitchers who no longer have minor league options should be designated for assignment and removed from the 40-man roster.

Minter made his third rehab appearance and second for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers on Sunday, pitching one scoreless inning and walking one batter. In three total appearances, he pitched three earned-run innings (two total), one hit and two walks while striking out three batters.

In 25 appearances for the Braves this season, Minter has a 2.95 ERA, a 0.984 WHIP and a .197 opposing average with 23 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings pitched with one save in four opportunities. For fans of advanced stats, he has 141 ERA+ – for reference, a 100 ERA+ is an average MLB player.

Overall, the Braves bullpen has posted a 3.19 ERA this season.

Ian Anderson also continued his good work on Sunday. He did not give up a run while in his third outing rehabbing after Tommy John surgery.

The Braves continue their home game Tuesday when they begin their series with the San Francisco Giants.