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Braves add pitcher from American League contender after season-ending move
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- Braves add pitcher from American League contender after season-ending move
The Atlanta Braves claimed right-handed pitcher Michael Grove off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, optioning him directly to Triple-A Gwinnett after the transaction was completed.
Grove was designated for assignment by Tampa Bay on September 12 following a partial season with the Rays. Across three big-league appearances this year he posted a 5.14 ERA with six strikeouts across seven innings, also dealing with the effects of returning from right shoulder surgery.
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At the Triple-A level however he has been considerably sharper, posting a 1.39 WHIP with 39 strikeouts across 33 innings at Durham.
The claim gives Atlanta low-risk organizational pitching depth at a time when the Braves rotation has been hit hard by injuries. Reynaldo Lopez was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier this week after a rough start against the Chicago Cubs , further thinning a rotation that has already been navigating multiple absences throughout the second half.
Grove is a versatile arm capable of starting or pitching in relief, having made 20 big-league starts with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2022 to 2024. He was a second-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and has shown at various points in his career that he can be effective at the major league level when healthy.
For now he will head to Gwinnett and serve as organizational depth, but with the Braves heading into the postseason short on reliable starting options, Grove could find his way onto the roster before October arrives if his performances warrant it.
