Fantasy News

• Braves' Darius Vines: Optioned after Sunday's start

  Rotowire Apr 22, 2024

  Vines (0-1) was the pitcher of record in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Rangers, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out two over five innings. He was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett following the game, according to David O'Brien of The Athletic. Making his second start for Atlanta, Vines cruised through the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. Evan Carter led off the frame with a solo shot to right center before Andrew Knizner put the Rangers in front with a three-run blast. Outside of the fourth inning, Vines held his own against a dangerous lineup, but he'll head back to Gwinnett nonetheless to gain further seasoning. Atlanta will call up Bryce Elder from Gwinnett to take replace Vines on the 26-man active roster ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Marlins.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Solid in short outing

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Vines allowed one run on four hits and three walks over 4.2 innings in a no-decision Monday. He struck out four in the win over Houston. Vines was tagged with a run in the first inning but was able to settle in and put together a decent performance. He threw 46 of 80 pitches for strikes, including nine whiffs. It was Vines' first MLB appearance since Sep. 27 of last season. The 25-year-old likely pitched well enough to earn another turn in the rotation, but Atlanta's long-term plan to replace Spencer Strider (elbow) remains unclear for now.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Set to start Monday

  Rotowire Apr 14, 2024

  Vines will start Monday's game against the Astros, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The 25-year-old was called up by Atlanta on Friday but wasn't needed out of the bullpen in Miami this weekend, so he's now in line to fill the rotation spot that was opened when Spencer Strider (elbow) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Vines posted a 3.98 ERA over 20.1 frames in his first taste of the majors last season, and he got off to a solid start at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2024 with a 3.75 ERA and 11:3 K:BB in two outings.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Called up Friday

  Rotowire Apr 12, 2024

  Atlanta recalled Vines from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. The right-hander made his last start for Gwinnett on April 4 and should immediately be available out of the bullpen for Atlanta. However, according to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Vines could be an option to start Tuesday against the Astros, depending on his usage over the next few days. The 25-year-old Vines made his MLB debut last season and had a 3.98 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB across 20.1 innings.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Cut from major-league camp

  Rotowire Mar 4, 2024

  Vines was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett by Atlanta on Monday. Vines has tossed five scoreless innings this spring, which gives you an idea what his odds of earning a roster spot were coming into camp. He'll be part of Gwinnett's rotation and should make some starts for Atlanta in 2024.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Sent back to minors

  Rotowire Sep 28, 2023

  Vines was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday. The move comes one day after Vines held the Cubs to two runs over six innings in a no-decision Wednesday. He's being sent out in favor of AJ Smith-Shawver, who is starting Thursday's contest. Vines has made a nice first impression in the big leagues in 2023, holding a 3.98 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB over 20.1 frames.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Recalled from Triple-A

  Rotowire Sep 22, 2023

  Vines was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. Vines is replacing Max Fried (blister) on the roster and could get a start over the final week-plus, although the rookie right-hander is more likely to be used for length in the bullpen. Vines holds a 3.27 ERA and 8:2 K:BB over 11 innings in three appearances (one start) for Atlanta this season, and per Jonathan Mayo and Sam Dykstra of MLB.com, he'll head straight to the Arizona Fall League right after the end of Atlanta's regular season.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Returns to Triple-A

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  Vines was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday. Vines was called up by Atlanta on Wednesday and will head back to the minors after he delivered three solid frames of long relief Saturday against Pittsburgh. The 25-year-old has pitched well in his three big-league appearances this season with a 3.27 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over 11 innings, so he could receive another look during the closing weeks of the season.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Possible waiver wire pickups

  Rotowire Aug 31, 2023

  Vines never got much attention as a prospect and is only now appearing in the majors at age 25. It's almost like the Braves set him up to fail, too, having his first start come at Coors Field, and yet he responded by having the best debut of any visiting pitcher in that park's history (the first to allow just two runs over six innings, anyway). And it's something to take seriously given that Vines had a 2.70 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 9.6 K/9 in the minors this year and a 3.63 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 10.1 K/9 for his career. His fastball isn't overpowering but has good carry, and his changeup is deceptive as all get-out, accounting for seven of his 11 whiffs (on 82 pitches) Wednesday. Vines is far from a must-add, but he might have a few more starts like this in him, especially since Kyle Wright's second rehab start didn't go so well.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Wins big-league debut in Colorado

  Rotowire Aug 31, 2023

  Vines (1-0) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out five over six innings to earn the win in Wednesday's 7-3 victory over the Rockies. Making his major-league debut at Coors Field, Vines had few issues with the Rockies' lineup. The runs against him came on an Ezequiel Tovar single and a Hunter Goodman sacrifice fly. Vines had a 2.86 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB over 28.1 innings with Triple-A Gwinnett after recovering from a shoulder injury, so his success isn't all that surprising. The rookie right-hander could have a chance to stick in Atlanta's rotation beyond Wednesday. If he does, he could pitch at home versus the Cardinals next week, though Atlanta may use Monday's off day to push him to the back a few days instead.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Rejoins Gwinnett rotation

  Rotowire Jul 31, 2023

  Vines (shoulder) was reinstated from Triple-A Gwinnett's 7-day injured list Thursday and struck out four while allowing one earned run on five hits and four walks over 4.2 innings in his return to the rotation. Thursday's appearance marked Vines' season debut for Gwinnett after he was placed on the IL coming out of spring training on account of an inflamed right shoulder. He was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in late June and turned in a 2.40 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 21:3 K:BB in 15 innings over his four starts between the rookie-level Florida Complex League and High-A Rome before he slotted back into the Gwinnett rotation. The 25-year-old right-hander is one of Atlanta's top pitching prospects and already has a spot on the 40-man roster, so a late-season promotion to the majors isn't out of the question if he excels in his next few outings at Triple-A and if the big club has a need for another impact arm.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Shifts rehab to High-A

  Rotowire Jul 18, 2023

  Vines (shoulder) made his most recent rehab appearance Friday at High-A Rome, covering 4.2 innings and striking out five while allowing one earned run on three hits and zero walks. The outing with Rome was the third of Vines' rehab assignment, which he kicked off June 30 in the rookie-level Florida Complex League. The right-hander has been on the shelf all season at Triple-A Gwinnett while he works his way back from a shoulder issue, but he looks on pace to make his 2023 International League debut either this week or next.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Out with undisclosed injury

  Rotowire Apr 4, 2023

  Vines is on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Gwinnett with an undisclosed injury. Given that Vines has had success in the upper levels and is on the 40-man roster, it seemed odd that he never factored into this spring's rotation competition in camp, so an injury makes sense. He has an excellent changeup that allows his low-90s fastball and average slider to play up. Vines should be considered out indefinitely until we get word on the nature of his injury.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Opens eyes in spring debut

  Rotowire Feb 26, 2023

  Vines gave up one hit and struck out three in a scoreless inning during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. It's generally foolhardy to draw too many conclusions from the sixth inning of a late February spring training game, but Vines certainly looked the part of a top pitching prospect Saturday as he leaned on his plus changeup to whiff three of the four batters he faced. The 24-year-old right-hander posted solid numbers in Double-A and Triple-A last season and appears poised to make his big-league debut at some point in 2023.

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• Braves' Darius Vines: Shielded from Rule 5 draft

  Rotowire Nov 15, 2022

  Vines was added to Atlanta's 40-man roster Tuesday. Vines is one of the more underrated pitching prospects in the upper levels of the minors. The 24-year-old righty had a 3.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 21.8 K-BB% in 20 starts at Double-A and made seven appearances at Triple-A to close out 2022. He needs to refine his command and control in order to get a look in Atlanta's rotation at some point next summer.

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