The Atlanta Braves have summoned up a starting pitcher who might be used in relief if necessary.
The Atlanta Braves are changing the back of their rotation.
Allan Winans was the first prospect pitcher given a chance to fill Spencer Strider’s rotation position after he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a UCL sprain and appears to be headed for a second UCL surgery. But things didn’t go as planned, as Winans allowed seven runs (six earned) in just five innings against the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon, resulting in a 16-4 loss.
As a result, the Atlanta Braves have promoted Darius Vines to the active roster while returning Winans to AAA Gwinnett.
Vines, 25, made his MLB debut for Atlanta last season as one of sixteen different starts forced to fill in for Max Fried and Kyle Wright due to injury. He was 1-0 with a 3.98 ERA in five MLB appearances, including two starts.
Vines, a seventh-round pick in 2019 out of CSU Bakersfield, made an outstanding start for Atlanta. Vines was brought up for a spot start on the road in Colorado on August 30th, where he limited the Rockies to two runs on four hits in six innings, becoming the first visitor pitcher in MLB history to go that long with so few runs scored at Coors Field.
Vines struck out 14 batters and walked seven in his 20.1 MLB innings last season. He uses a four-pitch mix, alternating between an 85-mph cutter and a 90-mph four seam fastball (33%), a low-80s changeup (25%), and a breaking ball (~9%).
While it was anticipated that Bryce Elder would be the next Braves pitcher called up to fill a rotation place on a long-term basis, the team’s use of other pitchers reflects both the clashing schedules of Gwinnett and Atlanta, as well as the planned utilization of the call-ups. Elder having started the day before Winans was called up, and with the necessity to have the newly acquired pitcher accessible out of the bullpen, Elder was not the best choice to complement the pitching staff until the following scheduled start.
With Vines being called up and projected to start next Tuesday against the Houston Astros if not needed in relief before then, Elder was able to make his next scheduled start in Gwinnett before being added to the major league roster.
