AJ Smith-Shawver Lands on IL, Braves Likely to Turn to Elder
Update: The Atlanta Braves have transferred pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver to the 60-day injured list. Smith-Shawver was really becoming a force in the Braves rotation. We are hopeful for a full recovery and that he will come back stronger.
When it rains, it pours, and that is definitely the vibe around the Atlanta Braves right now. Just when you thought the season couldn’t get any rockier, AJ Smith-Shawver is now headed to the 15-Day IL, at least. As you probably know by now, Smith-Shawver exited today’s game with what was first thought to be an injury from a comebacker off Bryson Stott’s bat. That ball hit off the back of his lower leg, so the initial thought was that the issue had something to do with that.
Turns out, it wasn’t the leg at all. After the game, the news hit like a bad luck punch in the gut: it’s his elbow. On the broadcast, you could see Smith-Shawver mouthing the word, “popped,” and that’s never something you want to see.
Manager Brian Snitker confirmed the grim reality after the game. “He said, ‘I felt it pop on a pitch to Turner,’” Snitker said. “I didn’t know if he meant his elbow or his, I thought maybe his Achilles or his foot was bothering him. So when I heard that, I was like, well, you’re done.”
Snitker added that Smith-Shawver had been dealing with some arm tightness, but the hope was it wasn’t serious. The Atlanta Braves have sent him back to Atlanta for an MRI, and we should know more tomorrow. Snitker didn’t sugarcoat it, “It doesn’t look good.”
When asked if he thought this was brought on by Smith-Shawver trying to possibly compensate for his lower leg, Snitker shot that down, “I think it’s just one of them things. I don’t think it has anything to do with that. I think that was just something that byproduct of, you know, his velocities has been really, really good.”
AJ’s velocity has been really good. His fastball has been ticking up for a few weeks now. Today he topped out at 99.6 mph, according to Baseball Savant.
This injury comes just as the Braves were finally starting to get healthier. Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. had recently returned from their own injuries, but the injury bug just seems to keep sticking around Atlanta. With Smith-Shawver’s MRI results pending, the Braves and their fans are once again holding their breath.
It’s a tough blow for Smith-Shawver, who had been trending upward since returning from his earlier stint in Triple-A Gwinnett. His last start against Washington was a bit rough, but outside of that, he had mostly delivered solid outings and was carving out a valuable role in the Atlanta Braves’ rotation. Smith-Shawver possibly in the running for Rookie of the Year, will now have to deal with this setback. I am no doctor, so I will not speculate what I think is wrong, but I sure hope for his sake that it is nothing major.
Now, with Smith-Shawver on the shelf for an undetermined amount of time, the Atlanta Braves will likely turn to a familiar face—Bryce Elder—to help fill the gap. While it’s not 100 percent confirmed yet, Elder appears to be the most logical option to step in for the time being. Elder, who was optioned to Gwinnett when Spencer Strider returned, had quietly turned his season around after a rocky start.
The numbers tell part of the story. In eight starts this season for Atlanta, Elder has a 2-2 record with a 4.50 ERA, 33 strikeouts, and 13 walks over 44.0 innings pitched. While the early season results sparked criticism, Elder had shown clear improvement in recent outings. His ability to limit walks and induce soft contact has been the key, and with the Braves in need of innings, it seems like Elder will get another shot soon.
It’s a frustrating cycle for the Braves, but this is where they are. Injuries keep chipping away, and the team has to find a way to keep pushing forward. All eyes are on Smith-Shawver’s MRI results, but in the meantime, the Braves will likely lean on Bryce Elder to help steady the ship, at least for now.
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