Braves reliever Swarzak on IL with shoulder inflammation
NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta Braves reliever Anthony Swarzak was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with inflammation in his pitching shoulder, a significant blow to the bullpen for the NL East leaders.
The team hopes Swarzak will be ready to return immediately after the All-Star break on July 12.
The move was made retroactive to Saturday. Right-hander Chad Sobotka was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett before Atlanta's series finale against the Mets.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said Swarzak mentioned some discomfort when he came off the mound Friday night after escaping a bases-loaded jam to preserve a one-run lead in the seventh inning of a 6-2 victory over New York.
"It's nothing structural, nothing bad, so hopefully this little time off, he'll be good to go in San Diego after the break," Snitker said. "Just hope it's nothing more than what it is. But he checked out and everything and they don't feel like it's anything that's going to be a problem."
The 33-year-old Swarzak, pitching for his eighth big league team, has provided a major boost to the Braves since arriving from Seattle in a May 20 trade. He has allowed only one run and eight hits in 17 1/3 innings, striking out 21.
The right-hander has thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings over his last 13 appearances, and his success earned him a late-inning role in high-leverage situations.
Sobotka had a 7.07 ERA in 14 relief outings with Atlanta this year. He had given up 13 hits, nine walks and three home runs in 14 innings.
In other injury news, second baseman Ozzie Albies was out of the starting lineup. Albies exited Saturday's game after getting hit by a pitch on the inside of his left elbow. He wore a protective sleeve on the elbow Sunday afternoon but was available off the bench, Snitker said.
