by Brady Penn

ATLANTA – Following AJ Smith-Shawver’s inspiring season debut, many in Braves Country were looking forward to what the next few starts had in store. Unfortunately, that will have to wait with the news that came on Friday Afternoon. Smith-Shawver was placed on the 15-Day Injured List with a strained left oblique. 

This is the third oblique injury of the season for the Braves with Sean Murphy in game one of the season, and more recently Austin Riley. Murphy and Riley look to be back in the next week, but Smith-Shawver will be shelved for some time with the news. In his place, the team recalled Ray Kerr from Gwinnett and tabbed him to start Friday Night’s game in Pittsburgh. Kerr, a lefty with a good fastball and curve, started seeing action on May 8th against Boston, with three more appearances from May 13th to May 19th. Kerr in total has pitched 9.1 innings and allowed 3 earned runs, along with 10 Ks. 

Kerr’s presence seems to be a temporary solution as the Braves head into the dog days of Summer. It is likely that either Darius Vines or Bryce Elder mans the spot that Smith-Shawver was planning to occupy, for the foreseeable future. On top of the Kerr move, the Braves added utility man Joey Wendle, who started the season with the New York Mets, where he batted .222. 

Wendle will likely share time with Zack Short at third if Riley continues to sit. Otherwise he will serve as a bench bat for Brian Snitker and Co. With the Wendle move, Luke Williams was sent down to Gwinnett. The Braves begin this three game series with the Pirates Friday Night at 6:40, then return to Truist Park for series with the Washington Nationals and Oakland Athletics.