NOTE: This article has been updated since its publication to reflect updates to the situation.
The Atlanta Braves have positioned the bullpen for the final series before the All-Star break. The team announced that Tyler Kinley is back from the paternity list and that Hurston Waldrep has been optioned to Triple-A.
Kinley is the second player to be reinstated from the list this week. Eli White returned from being away the day before. There could be a lot more dad strength on this team now.
Both spent the maximum three games permitted on the paternity list.
The Braves will have an extra arm for the upcoming series against the St. Louis Cardinals . With Robert Suarez expected to be out for a while longer, Kinley provides a veteran reinforcement. JR Ritchie, who has been pitching out of the bullpen, will now start on Saturday.
Waldrep is coming off allowing seven runs, including three home runs, on Tuesday night. He has a 8.40 ERA. Even if Ritchie may not be ready himslef, they trust him more to make one more start to get to the All-Star break,
In theory, they don't need a fifth starter right away when they get back from the break. Everyone will be rested.
Chris Sale , Reynaldo Lpez, Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder can all pitch in whichever desired order when they get back. The next time they'll need that option is on July 21. After that, they can decide who has to be the fifth starter on July 21.
By then, it's possible that Martn Prez is back from the injured list, and Waldrep can stay in Triple-A and continue to get more work in. Ritchie could then stay in the bullpen. With Lpez back in the rotation, they could have that choice by then.
Other options, such as Spencer Strider and AJ Smith-Shawver , aren't close to being ready.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/braves/onsi as Kinley Back From Paternity List, Braves Option Starter to Triple-A .
