The Braves are making moves to shake up their bullpen following a tough loss. David O’Brien of The Athletic reports that right-hander Craig Kimbrel will be added to the roster, along with recalling left-hander Dylan Dodd. To make room, right-hander Daysbel Hernández will be placed on the 15-day injured list, and righty Scott Blewett has been designated for assignment. The Kimbrel addition was reported earlier today.
Blewett, unfortunately, struggled mightily, sparking a flood of social media jokes. Atlanta held a commanding 9-3 lead over Arizona through seven innings. Blewett came in during the eighth, giving up one run to make it 9-4. The Braves responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the eighth, pushing the lead back to 10-4. Blewett returned to the mound in the ninth, tasked with protecting a six-run lead and just three outs. After striking out the first batter, he allowed the next four to reach base. With the lead cut to 10-7, Raisel Iglesias was called in to close, but he surrendered the go-ahead run, letting Arizona take an 11-10 lead. The Braves couldn’t respond in the bottom of the ninth, resulting in a heartbreaking defeat.
This loss marked Atlanta’s fourth straight and dropped them to 3-11 in their last 14 games. Their overall record stands at 27-34, placing them behind all other National League contenders. Blewett was charged with five earned runs over an inning and a third, delivering a crushing blow to the team.
At 29, Blewett is out of minor league options, which has led to a journeyman path. He began the season with the Twins on a minor league deal, briefly joined their major league roster in April before being designated for assignment. The Orioles claimed him off waivers but also designated him shortly after, which brought him to Atlanta on a cash transaction.
Prior to today’s setback, Blewett had performed reasonably well. Across the three teams, he had pitched 24 innings with a 2.25 ERA. His strikeout rate of 22.8% and walk rate of 8.9% were about average, while his 58.5% ground ball rate was notably strong. After today’s game, his ERA rose to 3.91, but overall he’s had a solid season.
Since Blewett is out of options and the Braves need a spot for Kimbrel on the 40-man roster, he has been designated for assignment. This process can take up to a week, with a 48-hour waiver period allowing Atlanta to explore possible trades. Despite being out of options, Blewett is still in his pre-arbitration years, meaning he remains an affordable asset. Despite today’s struggles, he’s had a respectable season.
Regarding Hernández, the specifics of his injury remain unclear. He left yesterday’s game showing signs of discomfort, and more details should emerge once he is officially placed on the injured list.
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