Atlanta reinstated Minter (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Monday.
Minter will assume the 26-man active roster spot of right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver, who was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after making a spot start in Sunday's win over the Brewers. The southpaw had been on the shelf since the All-Star break due to shoulder inflammation but received the green light to rejoin Atlanta after tossing a pair of scoreless innings over his two rehab appearances with Gwinnett. He should settle back in as one of the top setup men for closer Raisel Iglesias.
... See More... See Less
Braves' A.J. Minter: Throws bullpen session
Rotowire
Minter (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Minter felt good during and after the workout, and manager Brian Snitker said the lefty could soon head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 29-year-old reliever has been on the injured list since July 15 due to mild left shoulder inflammation.
... See More... See Less
Braves' A.J. Minter: Rehab appearance on tap
Rotowire
Minter (shoulder) will make a rehab appearance at Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Minter has been on the injured list since mid-July due to mild left shoulder inflammation, but he felt good after throwing a bullpen session Saturday. His rehab assignment should be the final step in his recovery process before he's cleared to rejoin Atlanta's bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Braves' A.J. Minter: Lands on injured list
Rotowire
Atlanta placed Minter on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left shoulder inflammation, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Minter was pulled from his last appearance July 8 with pectoral tightness, but it now appears to be his shoulder that is bothering him. The team seems to be taking a cautious approach with the injury, so it's possible Minter will be able to return when he's first eligible July 27. Dereck Rodriguez was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Braves' A.J. Minter: Dealing with pec tightness
Rotowire
Minter exited his appearance Saturday against the Rays due to left pectoral tightness, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Minter was lifted after facing one batter in the eighth inning. He and the team have both suggested that the injury isn't serious and that he exited out of precaution. Even so, he may be unavailable for Sunday's contest, which would give him six days to heal across the All-Star break.
... See More... See Less
Braves' A.J. Minter: Exits with apparent injury
Rotowire
Minter exited Saturday's game against the Rays with an apparent injury, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Minter was called upon to work the eighth inning while protecting a four-run lead. He retired the first batter he faced but was forced from the game immediately after. The nature of the issue is currently unclear.
... See More... See Less
Braves' A.J. Minter: Notches save No. 10
Rotowire
Minter struck out the only batter he faced to record his 10th save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Tigers during the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader.
Raisel Iglesias worked the ninth inning in the matinee in a non-save situation, so Minter got the call in the nightcap after Joe Jimenez had breezed through the eighth and got the first two outs in the ninth. The southpaw has three saves in his last four games, and while Iglesias remains Atlanta's closer, manager Brian Snitker will likely continue to turn to Minter when Iglesias is unavailable.
Braves' A.J. Minter: Nabs second save in four days
Rotowire
Minter earned a save against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit in one inning.
Closer Raisel Iglesias had pitched the previous two days for Atlanta, so Minter was called upon to close things out with the team up by three runs in the ninth inning. Minter served up a homer to Stone Garrett to begin his outing but retired the next three batters to close things out. It was the second save in four days for Minter, who is now up to nine on the season. He's clearly Atlanta's first choice to close when Iglesias is unavailable, but that likely won't amount to enough opportunities to notch more than a handful of additional saves the remainder of the campaign.
... See More... See Less
Braves' A.J. Minter: Notches save Wednesday
Rotowire
Minter earned a save over the Mets on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning.
Minter worked as Atlanta's closer early in the campaign, but coming into Wednesday he hadn't picked up a save in over a month. However, Raisel Iglesias had pitched on three of the past four days, so Minter was summoned from the bullpen to protect a 7-5 lead in the ninth inning. The southpaw needed just 10 pitches to retire all three batters he faced and close out the contest. Minter hasn't given up a run over his past six outings, but he's not likely to see many more save chances with Iglesias in firm control of the team's closer role.
... See More... See Less
Braves' A.J. Minter: Picks up win in Arizona
Rotowire
Minter (3-5) collected the win in Sunday's come-from-behind victory over the Diamondbacks, striking out one in two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run.
He needed 10 pitches (seven strikes) to notch the final two outs of the eighth inning and preserve a one-run deficit, making Minter the pitcher of record when Eddie Rosario launched a grand slam in the top of the ninth. The southpaw has struggled with his consistency this season, and since Raisel Iglesias returned from the IL in early May and reclaimed the closer role, Minter has a 5.06 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB over 10.2 innings.
