THE APEX TIMES
Braves send Martín Pérez to 15-day IL after forearm contusion, DFA Carlos Carrasco
Atlanta opens a new stretch of roster shuffling after Martín Pérez was struck by Juan Soto’s line drive and left the game with a left forearm contusion.
The Atlanta Braves placed left-hander Martín Pérez on the 15-day injured list Monday with a left forearm contusion, and the move quickly triggered another personnel change. Pérez suffered the injury after being hit by a line drive from Juan Soto during the Braves’ 10-9 loss to the New York Mets on Sunday, and he left the game afterward.
According to reports from the period, X-rays were negative following the incident. Pérez’s season workload has been substantial in Atlanta’s rotation, with the same reporting indicating he was 14 starts and had posted a 3.54 ERA across 18 appearances before the injury designation.
To clear a roster spot for the IL move, Atlanta designated right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment. Reports said Carrasco was the corresponding casualty after allowing five runs on five hits in two innings during Sunday’s game, a short outing that left the Braves’ bullpen options strained in the late innings of a high-scoring contest.
The Braves also made immediate backup moves as part of the same sequence. Atlanta recalled right-hander JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett and called up right-hander Owen Murphy, according to coverage tied to the transaction window. Those call-ups point to the Braves’ need for added pitching depth while Pérez sits out his IL minimum.
The roster changes reflect how quickly one damaged arm can ripple through a major league staff. Forearm contusions can vary widely in recovery time and readiness, and the IL designation is designed to give the Braves clarity on whether Pérez can return when the 15-day window begins to run out.
Carrasco’s DFA, meanwhile, underscores the churn that often follows when a team needs to make room for a healthier replacement, even if the player in question is an established veteran. The DFA process gives the Braves options such as trades or roster clearance, but it also indicates that Atlanta is prioritizing immediate relief pitching and rotation stability.
For Atlanta, the next watch items are straightforward: how quickly Pérez’s forearm responds during the IL period, and whether Ritchie and Murphy can provide innings that allow the Braves to keep late-inning leverage consistent. With Pérez sidelined and Carrasco on the DFA list, Atlanta’s pitching depth becomes the central story line until the organization gets a better read on Pérez’s status.
Why It Matters
- A forearm contusion affecting a starting pitcher forces Atlanta to reshape its rotation timing and bullpen usage for at least the next two-plus weeks.
- Carrasco’s DFA creates roster uncertainty and can impact depth options in the back half of games.
- How well the Braves’ incoming call-ups handle spot starts and middle relief may determine whether Atlanta can preserve bullpen availability during a busy stretch.
- The next meaningful checkpoint is Pérez’s recovery progress, since his return timing will influence Atlanta’s rotation plan and game-to-game leverage.
Sources
Key Facts
- The Braves placed left-hander Martín Pérez on the 15-day injured list with a left forearm contusion.
- Pérez was hit by Juan Soto’s line drive during Atlanta’s 10-9 loss to the New York Mets on Sunday and left the game afterward.
- Reports indicated X-rays were negative after the injury.
- Atlanta designated right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment following a Sunday outing in which he allowed five runs on five hits in two innings.
- The Braves recalled right-hander JR Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett and called up right-hander Owen Murphy in connection with the roster moves.