The Braves added another arm to a pitching staff that has already been stretched all over the map this season, claiming reliever Ricky Vanasco off waivers from the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, Aug. 26, and sending him to Triple-A Gwinnett.
Vanasco arrives in Atlanta after Detroit designated him for assignment. In five MLB appearances this season, he went 0-1 with a 15.63 ERA, giving up 14 hits, including two home runs, and 12 runs in 6.1 innings. He also issued six walks and struck out four.
This is not exactly a blank slate. Vanasco made his big league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024, spent all of 2025 and most of this season in Triple-A, and has now logged only nine major league appearances overall. Across those outings, he is 1-1 with a 12.19 ERA.
The timing is notable, too: Atlanta is hosting the Dodgers on Wednesday night in a matchup of two division leaders trying to clinch a first-round bye in the postseason.
The Braves have already burned through 34 different pitchers this year, a reflection of how hard injuries have hit the staff. Several key starters - Spencer Strider, Reynaldo Lopez, Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach - have missed time, and the bullpen has taken hits as well with Robert Suarez and Joe Jiménez sidelined.
Vanasco is not being brought in as Plan A for October, but he does give Atlanta a little more big league insurance if the injury list grows again.
He has dealt with health issues himself. Last year, he moved on and off the Tigers’ injured list before opening the 2026 season in strong form at Triple-A Toledo, where he posted a 0.00 ERA in his first 10 appearances for the Mud Hens.
That run earned him another shot in Detroit in May, but it didn’t stick. He made five appearances and allowed at least one walk, one hit and one run in every outing before heading back to Triple-A in June.
If he puts together a strong stretch at Gwinnett, Vanasco could get another look before the 2026 season ends.
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