Atlanta Braves Announce Roster Moves Ahead Of Matchup Against Rays

The Atlanta Braves have shuffled up their pitching staff following the activation of right-hander Reynaldo López who battled through left knee inflammation which landed him on the injured list in early August. 

Prior to suffering the injury, López recorded a 3.64 ERA and 1.34 WHIP while striking out 66 batters through 71.2 innings pitched this season. With Atlanta currently not having a set pitcher for their second matchup against the AL powerhouse Tampa Bay Rays, it is possible that López could make his return to the mound tonight.

As the corresponding transaction, the team will give Bryce Elder his turn on the IL after he underwent an arthroscopic knee surgery that is expected to keep him sidelined for the next three to four weeks.

Additionally, the Braves designated reliever Elieser Hernández for assignment while calling up left-hander Bailey Falter to the major-league squad from Triple-A Gwinnett.

As the Braves continue to fight for a first-round bye, the loss of Elder certainly stings with the rest of their rotation outside of 10-year All-Star Chris Sale and right-hander Tyler Mahle lacking consistency as well as the critical ability to pitch deep into games and help preserve the bullpen.

While Elder surrendered eight hits and five earned runs during his most recent outing last Monday against the San Francisco Giants, he has still gone .500 on the season and recorded 121 punchouts across 149 innings of action.

He was also crucial in Atlanta securing a 4-1 win over the NL East rival Miami Marlins on Aug. 5 when he fanned three batters and only allowed a single earned run through seven innings.

In the meantime, Falter's return to the major-league roster should give Atlanta a noticeable advantage against teams like the Rays who have struggled against left-handed pitching. With that, he might be another candidate to get the ball from manager Walt Weiss tonight.

Falter hasn't had the year he hoped though. During his last outing with the Kansas City Royals, he coughed up nine hits and seven earned runs, including three homers versus the New York Yankees, inflating his ERA to 13.97. Still, he's shown a bit of promise through 10.2 innings with the Stripers, only allowing six hits, two walks and one run that was unearned.

While the Braves figure out who will toe the rubber at 7:15 p.m. EDT, Tampa Bay already has that decided in right-hander Griffin Jax who has compiled a 3.82 ERA.