Now that Atlanta has locked in a playoff berth, the Braves are down to roster decisions that can get a little creative. Most of the time, this front office keeps things pretty straightforward in October. But every so often, a surprise name sneaks onto the postseason roster and ends up mattering.
This time, there are five Braves players who never appeared in a regular season game for Atlanta but could still be in the mix for the playoffs.
Joe Jiménez is the biggest name of the group. He was once a bullpen regular, but he hasn’t thrown a pitch for the Braves in nearly two calendar years.
Jiménez recently began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnnett Stripers before the minor league season wrapped up. In three appearances, he gave up two runs on four hits in 2.2 innings, with two strikeouts and two walks.
That’s not exactly a dominant run, so it seems more likely he stays on the IL than gets activated for October, though the door is still open for a surprise.
The catcher situation could also push Atlanta into an unusual choice. With Drake Baldwin spending more than half of his games at designated hitter, the Braves could decide to carry a third catcher as insurance behind Sean Murphy.
The catch is that Atlanta does not have another catcher on the 40-man roster, even after using a franchise record number of catchers this season. Of the six catchers not currently on the active roster who played for the Braves this year, only Jair Camargo is still in the organization.
If the Braves go this route, though, Chuckie Robinson or Maverick Handley would make more sense because of their MLB experience. Robinson played in eight games for the Dodgers this season, while Handley had a one-game stint with Baltimore.
Neither has played a regular season game for Atlanta.
Patrick Clohisy is another possible postseason wrinkle. After the Braves traded Eli White to the Red Sox at the deadline, they gave up their clearest pinch-running option.
DaShawn Keirsey eventually joined the roster this month and delivered a key run as a pinch-runner against the Phillies, but Clohisy could still be next in line. The 24-year-old turned heads in the minors this season and looked like a candidate to be called up when rosters expanded in September.
Instead, an injury cost him nearly a month, and he returned only for the final four games of the minor league season. His chances got a small boost when Ronald Acuña Jr. left Tuesday’s game against the Reds after fouling a ball off his shin.
Atlanta doesn’t have another outfield option on the 40-man roster, and with Lane Thomas already on the injured list, Clohisy could be the answer if Acuña’s injury is more serious than it first appeared.
Then there’s Tyler Uberstine, another deadline pickup. The right-hander worked in 14 games for the Stripers, giving up six earned runs across 17.1 innings.
He’d be a long shot to crack the playoff roster, especially since the Braves haven’t called him up this September even though he’s on the 40-man roster. Still, the front office could decide his stuff fits a specific matchup and bring him along as a surprise arm.
In Other News...
Ronald Acuna Jr. Just Gave The Braves Their Biggest Playoff Fear
Ronald Acua Jr. exited the game against the Cincinnati Reds after fouling a ball off his left leg and collapsing on the field, a scene that immediately put the Braves on edge. After receiving medical attention, he got up and walked off under his own power, with Brewer Hicklen taking his place.
For Atlanta, the concern goes well beyond one at-bat. Acua is central to everything the Braves do, and any injury scare involving a player with his history of leg issues lands with extra weight at this time of year, when the margin for error gets thinner and every close call feels bigger than it should. [Read more 🡒]
Ronald Acua Jr. Just Put Atlantas Playoff Hopes On Edge
Ronald Acua Jr. had been giving Atlanta exactly the kind of September spark the Braves hoped for after he missed significant time earlier in the season with injuries. His strong stretch helped steady a club that is trying to get itself in order for the playoffs, where every healthy bat and every electric presence matters a little more.
Now the Braves are waiting again after Acua had to leave a game when he fouled a ball off his leg, and there has not yet been an update on how serious it is. For a team already balancing October preparation with the need to keep its best players on the field, his availability has suddenly become one of the most important questions hanging over the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Waste An Encouraging JR Ritchie Night Amid Acua Scare
JR Ritchie gave the Braves a reason to feel better about one corner of the night, even as the scoreboard told a different story in a 4-0 loss to the Reds. The young right-hander worked five sharp innings, struck out eight and kept his underlying numbers in encouraging territory, the kind of outing that can still matter for a club trying to piece together stability on the mound.
What made the loss sting more was the sight of Ronald Acua Jr. exiting after fouling a ball off his lower leg, a reminder of how fragile the margins can be in September. Atlanta never found much offense to back Ritchie, and the bigger concern now is whether Acuas discomfort amounts to anything beyond a cautious departure, especially with every game carrying extra weight. [Read more 🡒]