Suppose you’ve been trying to keep track of who’s in, who’s out, and who’s just racking up frequent flyer miles between the Atlanta Braves and Gwinnett. Strap in because here we go again. Thursday morning brought another bullpen swap for the Braves as right-hander Michael Petersen got the call-up while lefty Austin Cox was optioned back down.
Petersen’s Strange Season of Call-Ups Without Action
Petersen might not be a household name yet, but his travel record this season is starting to resemble that of a Delta Platinum Medallion member. This is now his third call-up to the bigs, but he’s only pitched in two actual games. That’s less action than most fans get on their fantasy waiver wire.
His latest outing was a one-inning appearance against the Phillies back on May 29, where he gave up two runs. Not great. But rewind to April 13 in Tampa, and he showed some promise. He threw two scoreless innings against the Rays, holding it down like a seasoned reliever.
He even got called up again in late April but didn’t touch the mound before getting shipped back to Triple-A. It’s been a rinse-and-repeat routine, but one that shows the Braves still think he has value—at least enough to keep him on speed dial. And down in Gwinnett, he’s been fairly consistent, logging a 3.27 ERA across 22 innings in 18 appearances.
Cox Gets a Quick Look—Again
As for Cox, his second stint with the big-league club this year was equally brief. Just two outings, both in the current series against the Mets, totaling three innings and allowing one earned run.
It’s a small sample size, sure, but nothing to ring alarm bells over. His first call-up earlier in the season also didn’t include any game action—just a bullpen cameo and a return ticket back to Triple-A.
The Braves appear to be using Cox and Petersen like utility tools—rotating arms based on matchups, rest days, and overall strategy. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the reality of managing a pitching staff across 162 games.
Braves Bullpen Surging When It Matters Most
Since June 9, when the Braves finally snapped that rough losing streak with a win over Milwaukee, the bullpen has locked in. They have a 2.57 ERA over that span—third-best in all of baseball. That’s postseason-caliber relief pitching.
So even though these daily roster moves might feel chaotic, they’re part of a bigger picture that’s actually working. The Braves took the first two games of this series with the Mets before falling on Wednesday night, and they’re looking to bounce back and secure another series win with Grant Holmes taking the mound for Thursday’s finale.
