Ahead of a game in Chicago, the Braves boosted their bullpen by selecting RHP James Karinchak to the major league roster and shifting JR Ritchie back after his minor-league stint. The moves come as Tyler Kinley was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow infl
Before tonight’s game in Chicago, the Braves made the kind of bullpen adjustment that usually follows a late, frustrating moment.
After last night’s blown save versus the White Sox, Carlos Carrasco was expected to re-enter the DFA spin cycle. Instead, the club pulled in more help from the minors, selecting RHP James Karinchak to the major league roster.
Karinchak is 30 years old and was signed to a minor-league contract in December. With Triple-A Gwinnett, he’s posted a 2.45 ERA and recorded five saves in 21 games played. For a team looking to stabilize late leads, those numbers are the quick pitch they needed.
The roster change also came with an injury hit. Tyler Kinley. who was starting to find his rhythm again after a rough patch. has been placed on the 15-day IL. The designation is backdated to June 8, and the reason listed is right elbow inflammation. Walt Weiss is expected to provide more information on the severity before tonight’s contest.
For Kinley, the timing is brutal. For the Braves bullpen, it’s a direct gap they have to fill immediately.
The corresponding move brought JR Ritchie back. Ritchie has struggled to find a scoreless outing. going scoreless over the last three games with the Stripers since being sent back down. Still. a fresh arm is a fresh arm in the middle of a season. and the Braves are betting that this recall can reset the look of their late innings.
With Kinley sidelined and the roster reshaped before first pitch in Chicago, one thing becomes clear: the Braves didn’t wait for this problem to fix itself.
Atlanta Braves James Karinchak JR Ritchie Tyler Kinley DFA bullpen moves Chicago game right elbow inflammation Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers
So they just panic grab another pitcher? Braves bullpen is cursed.
Wait Kinley’s on the IL again for elbow inflammation? I thought he was finally getting it together. Braves always have someone breaking down right before a big series.
Karinchak recalled… Isn’t that the guy who got in trouble before? Like I swear I heard something about him years ago, but maybe I’m mixing him up with another pitcher. If his ERA is 2.45 then cool I guess, but blown saves are gonna happen anyway.
Backdated to June 8 is wild, like they knew something was up and just waited? Also DFA spin cycle?? I don’t even know what that means half the time, but it sounds messy. JR Ritchie coming back while he’s been kinda rough, seems like the Braves are just rolling the dice.