The Atlanta Braves are shaking things up as the postseason hunt intensifies, making a flurry of roster moves ahead of their weekend series against the Seattle Mariners.
On Friday, the Braves reinstated red-hot outfielder Jurickson Profar from the paternity list and called up right-hander Daysbel Hernández from Triple-A. In a corresponding move, they designated infielder Luke Williams for assignment and released right-hander Cal Quantrill, a short-lived experiment that never took off.
Meanwhile, the New York Mets swooped in and claimed right-hander Wander Suero off waivers, grabbing a bullpen arm the Braves no longer had room for.
Profar’s Power Surge Returns
Profar, who missed the recent road series against the Cubs after welcoming a new addition to his family, is expected to return to the top of the Braves’ lineup.
And let’s be clear: he’s been great. Over his last 29 games, Profar is slashing .292 with a 1.013 OPS, nine home runs, and 26 RBIs. The Braves are hoping that fatherhood fuels another power surge as they charge toward October.
Daysbel Gets Another Shot in Atlanta
Hernández returns to a bullpen that’s looking for consistency. He started the season strong but was sidelined by an injury and has struggled since returning, posting a 6.14 ERA over his last nine outings. The Braves must believe the righty can help down the stretch, or at least eat innings as they manage workloads in the final month.
Luke Williams Era Ends, Braves Need a New Blowout Arm
With Williams being DFA’d, Atlanta loses its go-to position player when a game gets out of hand. The utility infielder had a rough year at the plate (.133 AVG, .382 OPS in 33 appearances), but his role as a last-resort pitcher was a quirky part of the roster. Vidal Bruján, who recently pitched in a blowout against the Phillies, might be next in line for that honor.
Cal Quantrill is Dropped By the Braves
The Braves also moved on from Cal Quantrill, a veteran starter who simply couldn’t find his footing in Atlanta. With Chris Sale returning to the rotation, Quantrill was the odd man out.
His numbers didn’t help either: 13.50 ERA in just eight innings across two starts. He now joins Erick Fedde and Carlos Carrasco in the pile of short-term Braves arms who couldn’t stick.
