The Braves announced Friday that they’ve placed right-hander Jeremy Walker on the newly created 45-day injured list due to a right shoulder impingement. The issue initially arose in the original Spring Training, David O’Brien of The Athletic tweets. The 45-day IL took the place of the 60-day IL given the shortened nature of the 2020 season, so shelving Walker in this manner opens a 40-man spot for Atlanta.
Walker, 25, made his big league debut with the Braves in 2019. In 9 1/3 frames, he allowed a pair of runs on nine hits and four walks with six punchouts. Prior to that, the 2016 fifth-rounder had split the season between Double-A and Triple-A, where he compiled a combined 2.88 ERA with a sterling 82-to-11 K/BB ratio in 81 1/3 innings.
The Braves previously had a full 40-man roster, and while this could free them up to make a move now that MLB’s transactions freeze has been lifted — be it a signing, trade or waiver claim — they also had several non-roster veterans in camp who seemed likely to be added to the 40-man roster. Felix Hernandez, Charlie Culberson and Josh Tomlin were all non-roster invitees, and each of the three appeared to have a solid chance at making the club even before Opening Day rosters were set to expand to 30 players.
thanks for explaining the IL switch. i didnt catch that before.
Rooting for the kid, but this likely takes him out of being able to pitch at all this season even if he get healthy in time
I’m really interested in how the rotation shakes out. I still believe in Newcomb as a starter and hope Snitker goes with a 6 man rotation after the first couple of starts where everyone is going 3/4 innings at most. I think everyone except Hamels should have a piggy back partner the first 2 turns and add the best of the piggy back bunch as the 6th man in the rotation.
Six man rotation makes no sense. Pitchers do not need five days between starts. The opener strategy would probably be worth considering with 30 man roster.
In a normal season it doesn’t but in this messed up 1/3rd of a season I’d be okay with it. Get kids like Wright and Touki some more starts and try to keep Soroka/Fried from blowing out their arms in a throwaway year. Snitker already said that the first 2 or 3 times through the rotation they’ll only go 3/4 innings which only leaves a handful of uninhibited starts left anyway.
First couple of starts goes like
Soroka – 3/4 innings -> Felix 3/4 innings
Fried 3/4 -> Wright 3/4 innings
Hamels can pitch however many innings his arm allows. One year rental is an arm to abuse
Foltynewicz 3/4 innings -> Newcomb 3/4 innings
Starting with such little workloads they wouldn’t need a fifth turn or they could easily go with some combination of Ian Anderson/Bryce Wilson etc.
This year is going to have almost as big of an asterisk next to it as the Astros world series teams.
I don’t think it will be either. They will keep it simple.
Braves will do a standard rotation, but ramp up slowly. They will heavily utilize their bullpen, which might be the best in the majors after all the mid-season and post-season acquisitions. I don’t think they will have any assigned piggyback types as it will be situational to each game and who is coming up. That also means an added chance that they use Newcomb out of the pen for an extra lefty middle inning man.
Starters
Soroka
Folty
Freid
Hamels
Felix or Wilson
Pen
Melancon
Smith
Greene
Jackson
Martin
O’Day
Dayton
Minter
Newcomb
Toussaint
As a side note, I do think Newcomb would have made the rotation if the season had started on time (at least until Hamels was ready). I am definitely not saying he doesn’t belong there. I just think the Braves will want to maximize his benefit and he fits this shortened window as a middle inning lefty out of the pen 2-3 times a week better than a short outing starter.
Hamels will likely need two piggyback partners, coming back from a throwing shoulder injury at his age.
I wonder if the Braves (or any team) can make a 45 day IL placement retroactive to the date the injury happened or if under the new rules, day 1 has to be the day you place him on the list (at least until Spring Training or the season starts). If Walker hurt himself in April, can they push this back to April and he could technically come off the list at any time during the season?
that would probably open the list up to a lot of manipulation
Someone recently told me that there is no retroactivity prior to the season’s start.
I’m personally just glad they they have finally agreed to play some baseball. It’s been a very boring summer without any sports. Some people don’t like the 60 game as it’s to short but I’m just glad they are playing any games at least. That’s 2+ months of Baseball to watch plus the playoffs. Let’s get goin.
I really do think that Atlanta has the talent to win the World Series assuming the players have been staying ready and aren’t ice cold. Even though their schedule will be brutal having to play the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays from the AL each 4 times on top of a very tough NL East. If ATL can Get off to a fast start. Anything is possible!!!!!!