MIAMI – Nick Anderson is set to begin a rehab assignment.
He is expected to make his first rehab outing on Tuesday for Triple-A Gwinnett, which will host Durham. Anderson hasn’t pitched in a game since July, when the Braves placed him on the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder strain.
It’s difficult to know whether Anderson might be on the Braves’ postseason roster. Triple-A Gwinnett’s season ends Sept. 24, which means Anderson only has six games to compile outings and prove himself on his rehab assignment.
If they want, the Braves could activate him for the final week of the big-league season to continue evaluating him, if necessary. They have a deep bullpen, though the depth took a hit when they shut down Dylan Lee because of left shoulder inflammation.
Before hitting the injured list, Anderson posted a 3.06 ERA over 35⅓ innings. He was one of Atlanta’s most reliable relievers. But after such a long layoff, it’s fair to wonder how he’ll perform upon returning.
Jesse Chavez, who suffered a microfracture in his left shin in June, is also on a rehab assignment. Over his first three rehab outings, Chavez has tossed 3⅓ scoreless innings.
For the postseason, clubs submit a 26-man roster prior to each round. To be on the postseason roster, players must be on the 40-man roster or the 60-day injured list as of 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 31. Anderson and Chavez are both on the 60-day injured list, and would be eligible.
Max Fried pushed back
The Braves on Monday begin a three-game series with the Phillies. They will start Kyle Wright on Monday, Spencer Strider on Tuesday and Bryce Elder on Wednesday.
This means they are pushing back Max Fried. After Sunday’s loss, manager Brian Snitker said this is because Fried had a hot spot on his finger during his last start. The Braves removed him after five innings and 87 pitches because they didn’t want it to develop into a blister. They noticed fluid beginning to build up under the skin.
Fried will start a game during the Nationals series in Washington, which goes from Thursday through Sunday.
“Just trying to give him extra time so it didn’t happen (and) nothing came from it,” Snitker said. “He’s been really good, so that’s good that we did that.”
Ronald Acuña Jr. update
Ronald Acuña Jr. on Sunday was out of the starting lineup for the second time in as many days. This wasn’t a surprise, given Snitker on Saturday mentioned also thinking about the loanDepot park turf, which is tough on outfielders, as a factor when evaluating Acuña.
On the pregame show on 680 The Fan on Sunday morning, Snitker said Acuña is improving. He’ll work out Monday at Truist Park, where the Braves will continue evaluating him.
“If he feels something and he needs another day, then so be it,” Snitker said after Sunday’s loss, when he confirmed this with reporters. “That’s just one of those things that we wanna make sure.”
Braves option Jared Shuster
The Braves optioned Jared Shuster, who started Saturday’s game, to Triple-A Gwinnett. They recalled righty Dereck Rodriguez. To make room for Rodriguez on the 40-man roster, the Braves transferred Dylan Lee to the 60-day injured list.
This is the fifth time the Braves have optioned Shuster. Teams can only option players five times per season. If the Braves were to bring up Shuster and option him again, they would need to put him on outright waivers before sending him to the minors.
This shouldn’t be an issue. The Braves have the depth to get through the final two weeks of the season. Once the postseason hits, players aren’t “optioned” if they’re taken off the roster from round to round. Teams simply set their rosters.
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