The Atlanta Braves just shook things up big time before their Tuesday night game against the Minnesota Twins, recalling right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Wednesday’s series finale and designating reliever Tyler Kinley for assignment. It’s a move that tells you everything about how this team operates when things aren’t clicking.
The Brutal Fall From Dominance
Man, Kinley was absolutely lights out last season, putting up a ridiculous 0.72 ERA and only giving up 11 hits across his first 25 innings with the Braves. He looked like an absolute steal after they traded for him from the Colorado Rockies about a year ago. That kind of performance makes you an instant fan favorite, right? But what a difference a year makes, because this season has been a completely different story.
The 35-year-old righty is sitting on a rough 4.01 ERA, with 42 strikeouts over 42.2 innings. The biggest red flag? He’s given up four dingers in his last 12.2 innings alone, a slide that started way back on July 3. Steve Adams from MLB Trade Rumors hit it right on the head, pointing out Kinley’s “susceptibility to home runs, as one would expect for a fly-ball pitcher who’s spent the vast majority of his career calling Denver’s Coors Field his home park.” But Adams also noted this year is different, saying Kinley’s “never struggled with the long ball to this extent.” He’s averaging nearly two homers a game this season, a whopping 1.9 per nine innings, and a “career-worst 15.5% of the fly balls he’s allowed this year have left the yard.” That’s brutal, no two ways about it.
All Eyes On Smith-Shawver
So, who’s stepping into the void left by Kinley? It’s right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver, called up from Triple-A Gwinnett. This isn’t just a simple roster swap, either. Smith-Shawver isn’t just taking Kinley’s spot on the active roster, he’s getting thrown straight into the fire, scheduled to start Wednesday’s series finale against the Twins. It’s a huge vote of confidence for the young arm. This is a big moment, especially given that Smith-Shawver has been described as “often-injured.” Can he deliver the stability the Braves need, or is this a gamble that could backfire? The Braves are clearly making a statement: they aren’t going to wait around when a pitcher is struggling, even if he was lights out just a year ago. They’re rolling the dice on fresh talent, and it shows they mean business.
As for Kinley, he’s heading to the waiver wire, a tough end to what started as a dominant run with the Braves. Wednesday’s game is now even more critical for Atlanta. With Smith-Shawver making the start, all eyes will be on him. Can he anchor the rotation spot, especially with the “often-injured” tag? That series finale against the Twins just got a whole lot more interesting for the Braves and their fans. You gotta wonder if this move pays off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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