Well that didn’t take long. Within an hour of the Braves’ 4-0 extra innings loss to the Phillies, the Braves designated relievers Nick Masset and Dana Eveland for assignment. This comes after Masset gave up 3 earned runs in the 10th inning today, preventing the Braves from sweeping the Phillies. Neither of these guys have been particularly effective for the Braves this season. Nick Masset was DFA’d by the Marlins earlier this season and the Braves picked him up, but he has a 4.68 ERA this season. Dana Eveland was brought in a few weeks ago to give the Braves another lefty out of the bullpen, but he could not replicate the success he had at AAA early in 2015. Eveland has a 5.40 ERA in 10 appearances for Atlanta, but he really did not get much of a shot, as that only equates out to 3.1 inning. Nevertheless, the Braves are looking in another direction.
I think that David Carpenter and Arodys Vicaino will serve as an upgrade to our bullpen. No, Braves fans, this is not the same David Carpenter who pitched for us last season. Carpenter was signed to minor league deal this offseason and has a 0.73 ERA in 27 appearances for AAA Gwinnett this season. These numbers are great, but Carpenter has struggled in 30 career MLB appearances in past seasons. WIth this being said, if he can translate half the success he’s had for Gwinnett, he will be an upgrade in our bullpen. Arodys Vizcaino finally dons the Atlanta Braves uniform for the first time since 2011 now that he has returned from his 80-game suspension for PED use. Vizcaino is a strikeout guy who can throw in the high 90’s. The Braves have traded for him twice, so clearly they believe in his stuff. If Vizcaino can put it all together he is a guy with serious late inning aspirations in his career. He will have to control his pitches if this is to be the case. He serves as a very interested wild card in a bullpen that can always use more help. He is ranked #13 on SportsTalkATL’s Braves Top Prospect List.