The Braves have recalled right-hander Matt Wisler from Triple-A Gwinnett and designated fellow righty Josh Collmenter for assignment in order to clear a spot on the active roster, according to David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution (Twitter link).
The 31-year-old Collmenter turned in a solid April for the Braves but has been shelled in the month of May, allowing runs in six of his seven appearances this month. That culminated in a seven-run shellacking at the hands of the Pirates last night — an outing that lasted just two-thirds of an inning and included three Pittsburgh home runs.
Collmenter proved to be a useful pickup for Atlanta late in the 2016 campaign, tossing 19 innings and allowing just five earned runs on 15 hits and five walks with 16 strikeouts. That performance proved to be enough for the Braves to retain the former D-backs Opening Day starter via arbitration this winter, as Collmenter agreed to a $1.2MM salary for the 2017 season. Because Collmenter has more than five years of big league service time, he’ll earn the entirety of that sum even if he elects free agency upon being outrighted (or if he is released).
In parts of seven Major League seasons (695 1/3 innings), Collmenter has a 3.64 ERA with 6.4 K/9, 2.2 BB/9 and a 36 percent ground-ball rate. He’s worked as both a starter and a reliever and has actually never finished a season in the big leagues with an ERA north of 3.79. However, he’s also never been a hard-thrower, and his velocity in 2016-17 has hovered in the 84-85 mph range, which doesn’t lend much optimism moving forward.
pztpaco34
Totally agree with DFAing Collmenter, but how much longer is the Wisler/Blair experiment going to last?
lilkube
Thank you! Finally getting rid of that bum.
bravesfan1998
Heartless over here
vacommish
Great move, Braves. Embarrassing 10th inning performance and he has been shelled. Wisler still has potential, though I agree that it would be good to see Simms or Newcomb (and Allard next year).
baseball10
Maybe the worst pitched 10th inning in history last night
southi
It was hard to watch for sure.
rluckett31
Saw this coming after last two really bad outings. That was hard watching him get pummeled last night.
BravesBoi
I have been praying for this to happen for weeks now. I honestly don’t remember him having a single decent outing this year. Even if we get somebody up who works to a 6 something ERA, that’s 3 whole freaking points lower than his. And that is awful. I will take the so called “Wisler/Blair experiment” over the Collmenter experiment
sufferforsnakes
Praying?
TheMichigan
“Dear God, I know you can hear me up there. Listen, disregard my previous prays to win the lottery, today I’m praying for you to DFA that bum Collementer on the Braves. Is that possible? Thanks G, you’re a life saver.”
sufferforsnakes
Yeah, keep it up. One day you will have to explain your actions to Him.
brianakabigb
Yep, and BravesBoi won’t listen to that explanation!
arc89
God healing those hurt or who the Braves have in their bullpen? WWGD?
El Duderino
Lmao, I needed that.
vacommish
Lol!!!!
BravesBoi
I’ll take him fixing the Braves
pztpaco34
Hey, maybe Coppy will transition Bonifacio to the bullpen! Couldn’t be any worse than that 10th inning.
vacommish
Bonifacio needs to go too.
WAH1447
Please tell me bonifacio is next the guy is pathetic
Bub27
How about this thought, on a good team Julio would not be a starter.
noraj9
No.
realgone2
He’s just not an Ace. The Braves keep selling him as one, but he isn’t.
BravesBoi
He would definitely be a starter. And his numbers away from home this year are definitely ace status. He has a 1 something ERA away from home
WAH1447
But when your era is 50.00 at home there is not too much to say about it
acmeants
Let’s leave Colon on the curb as well. The Braves would have been better off using Collmenter as a starter. One more bad start and they can let Tehran leave the plane with a parachute.
vacommish
Agree again. Let the young guys learn on the job
olereb
Acmeants, are you young or you just don’t know anything about ball. Teheran would have pitched a six inning shutout had it not been for J Peterson, who had two errors in the game. Not you or anybody is going to have their A game everytime out. Teheran is a number 2 or 3 pitcher, at the end of the year you will eat those stupid words you just said
realgone2
Exactly he is a 3 maybe a 2. He is certainly not an Ace.
jdgoat
He isn’t a 2 or 3 pitcher on a good team.
BravesBoi
He is at least a 3 on every single team in the league. He’s better than most 2s as well
ncbravesfan95
I am glad for this move not bringing up Wisler was dumb I’d rather have seen someone else maybe bring up Medlen would have been better Del La Cruz Morris Cabrera or Albers would have been better then Wisler
Bub27
Teheran has to be able to pitch into the seventh inning consistently, quality starts most of the time for him to be considered a true ace on any staff.
Bravos95
I called Collmenter’s DFA after the hideous 10th inning. Colon has to be walking on thin ice. I would give him one more start and if he doesn’t figure things out, bring on the kids!!