Martin Perez To IL, Braves Call Up Elieser Hernandez
TLDR: The Braves put Martin Perez on the IL with lower back inflammation days before the Wild Card Series, called up Elieser Hernandez and moved Hurston Waldrep to the 60-day IL.
Terrible timing in Atlanta. Martin Perez has been one of the steadiest arms the Braves had all year, with a 3.04 ERA over 26 starts, and now he's out for the start of the playoffs with a bad back. The first word came from the Braves beat right before first pitch on Thursday.
Martin Perez will be going on the IL with lower back inflammation
Walt Weiss said Perez felt it during his Sunday start in Houston, and it hasn't responded well to treatment. He's still sore. The move was backdated to Monday, so the dates are simple and they're bad: Perez can't come back until October 6, the same day as Game 3 of the NLDS. If Atlanta gets there at all, he probably isn't a real option until the NLCS.
Assuming Martin Perez’s IL move is backdated to Monday, he wouldn’t be eligible to return until Oct. 6 (NLDS Game 3). Weiss said he doesn’t know if Elder will be available by the start of the IL. That’s probably optimistic to think he could return before the NLCS.
The Perez news isn't the only problem. Bryce Elder had knee surgery and Reynaldo Lopez has shoulder inflammation, so the depth that looked fine in August is gone. That leaves 3 names for the short series: Chris Sale, Tyler Mahle and Grant Holmes. Sale starts the opener, Mahle has pitched himself into Game 2 since coming over from the Giants, and Holmes gets the ball in Game 3, which Perez might have taken depending on the opponent.
Looks like Sale, Mahle and Holmes are the Braves top options to start in WC Series and NLDS. If the WC Series went the distance and ATL advances, Ritchie or an opener would be the best option to start Game 1 of the NLDS. Sale would have to go on regular rest for Game 2
That's the part that should worry Braves fans. If the Wild Card Series goes the full 3 games and Atlanta wins it, Game 1 of the NLDS goes to rookie JR Ritchie or an opener, and Sale would have to pitch Game 2 on regular rest. That's a lot to ask of a thin rotation against a team that's had time to line up its best arms.
Elieser Hernandez is taking Martin Perez's spot on the active roster. Hurston Waldrep was moved to the 60-day to create a 40-man spot for Hernandez
Elieser Hernandez gets the open roster spot, and the Braves moved Hurston Waldrep to the 60-day IL to make room for him on the 40-man. Hernandez has been on this shuttle all season: called up to eat innings, then designated for assignment once the need is gone. He's a long man, not a fix. For Atlanta, the whole bet is now Sale, Mahle and Holmes getting them through a week, and Perez's back healing in time for the NLCS.
