The Braves introduced as we speak that left-hander A.J. Minter has been positioned on the 15-day injured checklist attributable to left hip irritation. Fellow lefty Dylan Lee has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett in a corresponding transfer.
At this level, it’s unclear how critical Minter’s damage is or how lengthy the membership expects him to overlook, but it surely’s maybe noteworthy that that is his second IL stint for this situation this 12 months. He landed on the IL attributable to left hip irritation Might 31, lacking simply over a month earlier than being reinstated July 1. Per Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Structure, Minter remains to be present process analysis for his present standing and the membership isn’t certain if he’ll be capable to return this season.
Regardless of the hip situation, he’s managed to publish good outcomes when on the mound, as he has thrown 34 1/3 innings with 2.62 earned runs allowed per 9. His 26.1% strikeout price is a couple of ticks under his price from the earlier two seasons, however he’s additionally getting extra floor balls.
There is perhaps a bit of excellent luck in that ERA as he has a .222 batting common on balls in play and 94.2% strand price, that are each on the lucky aspect. However his 16.7% dwelling run per fly ball ratio is basically double his price from the 2 previous campaigns. FIP offers a pitcher blame/credit score for dwelling runs, in order that metric has Minter at 4.46 this 12 months, far worse than his ERA. However a metric like SIERA, which normalizes dwelling run price, is extra variety and has Minter at 3.39. That’s nonetheless a noticeable hole from his ERA but it surely’s not far off from the three.06 SIERA he had final 12 months.
No matter how one feels about Minter’s stats this 12 months, it’s a tough growth for the Atlanta bullpen. The aid corps ought to nonetheless be in first rate form with out him, because the membership’s relievers have a collective 3.38 ERA on the 12 months that trails solely the Guardians and Brewers. However they’re in a spot now the place incremental variations may loom massive. Their current skid has dropped them to 61-56, barely clinging to the ultimate Nationwide League Wild Card spot with the Mets simply half a recreation again and a number of other different groups inside hanging distance.
Supervisor Brian Snitker has been utilizing Minter in key conditions. Minter is second on the staff in holds behind Joe Jiménez and his common leverage index is third behind Jiménez and nearer Raisel Iglesias. Subtracting Minter will make it more difficult for Snitker to navigate the ends of tight video games. Lee has robust numbers on the 12 months, with a 2.00 ERA in 45 innings, however largely in lower-leverage spots.
It additionally might be a tough growth for Minter himself, as he’s an impending free agent. He has a powerful profession observe report with a 3.28 ERA over his 384 appearances with a 29.3% strikeout price, 8.6% stroll price and 39.9% floor ball price. However he’s already had one IL stint of over a month this 12 months and one other prolonged absence may tamp down his offseason contract affords. He’ll rejoice his thirty first birthday on September 2.