As teams gear up for Opening Day, the ideal roster is always the goal, but reality often throws a curveball. Factors like player options and rookie readiness can shake things up, leading to some unexpected roster decisions.
Take the Braves' recent move with former Guardians reliever James Karinchak. Despite a strong spring, Karinchak was sent to Triple-A, making room for long reliever José Suarez. The Braves, facing a grueling 13-game stretch to start the season, need that pitching depth, especially with some starters still on the mend.
Karinchak’s spring performance was nothing short of impressive. Across four scoreless innings, he allowed just one hit and racked up nine strikeouts with only two walks. This control was a significant improvement, considering past struggles with command that derailed his career after a stellar start in 2019 and 2020.
Despite a rocky 2021 and pitch clock adjustments in 2023, Karinchak showed resilience. Last year, he posted a 2.45 ERA in Triple-A with the White Sox, though walks remained an issue. His fastball, clocked at 95.2 mph in 2022, is undeniably potent, but command has been his Achilles' heel.
Landing with the Braves on a minor league deal, Karinchak seized his spring training opportunity. While he’s not on the Opening Day roster, his performance suggests he’ll soon be a key player in Atlanta’s bullpen, health permitting.
The Braves boast a formidable bullpen duo in Raisel Iglesias and Robert Suárez, but beyond them, there’s room for improvement. Karinchak’s return to form could be just what the team needs to bolster their relief corps in 2026.