Braves option JR Ritchie back to Triple-A Gwinnett

Ritchie provides Atlanta with some additional depth out of the bullpen with Bryce Elder not slated to take the ball until later next week against the Pirates. The 23-year-old top prospect has pitched to a respectable 4.87 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 37/25 K/BB ratio across 40 2/3 innings in the big leagues this season. He offers minimal fantasy appeal at the moment in what amounts to a low-leverage mop-up role.

Ritchie was scheduled to start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday. He’s pitched to a respectable 4.87 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 37/25 K/BB ratio across 40 2/3 innings in the big leagues this season. The 23-year-old can function as either a traditional starter or bulk relief option, depending on Atlanta’s needs.

It just hasn’t come together for Ritchie, who has allowed 10 runs (nine earned) in 10 innings in his last two starts. The Braves could put Reynaldo Lopez back into the rotation, but Hurston Waldrep (elbow) could also be ready to make his season debut for Atlanta.

Ritchie tossed a scoreless first inning, then completely fell apart in the second. It started with two walks with one out, followed by four hits to bring five runs home for the Padres. The last run was scored on an error, making it an unearned run. Ritchie settled in to give the Braves three more scoreless innings while collecting seven strikeouts. He ends the day with a 4.87 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and a 37/25 K/BB ratio across 40 2/3 innings. Ritchie is in line to take on the Cardinals in Atlanta next Tuesday.

Ritchie set a poor tone for his start by walking Luis Arraez to start the game. That was only the 16th walk Arraez has drawn all season and Rafael Devers doubled him home a few batters later. Then, the floodgates opened in the second when Ritchie gave up home runs to Willy Adames, Arraez, and Bryce Eldridge. He did wind up retiring the final nine batters he faced, but the damage was already done. Without wipeout stuff, fastball command is very important for Ritchie. He struggled with such early on before finding it after settling in.He’s for a two-start week coming up against the Padres and Giants, again, with both games coming on the road.

Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters late Friday that Strider will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury and whether he’s dealing with any structural issues. It’s an extremely concerning development given his injury history, which already includes two elbow surgeries. The 27-year-old former fantasy ace experienced a noticeable velocity dip, which lead to his removal from Friday’s start against the Mets in the fourth inning after just 68 pitches. There should be a definitive update on his status later this weekend. Top prospect JR Ritchie, who fired five shutout innings in relief following Strider’s departure, appears to be the most logical candidate to fill his rotation spot.

“It doesn’t look great as we stand here, right now,” said Weiss after Strider experienced shoulder and elbow soreness, which led to his early exit from the fourth inning of Friday’s start against the Mets after just 68 pitches. He also experienced a significant velocity drop prior to exiting, which is never a good sign, especially for a pitcher with two elbow surgeries already on his resume. He was charged with seven runs on six hits, including three home runs, in the abbreviated outing. He struck out three and issued one walk. He’ll undergo imaging to determine the exact nature of the injury. There should be a definitive update on his status at some point this weekend. It seems highly unlikely that he’ll make his next start against the Giants on Thursday. The logical choice to fill his rotation spot would be top prospect JR Ritchie, who threw five scoreless innings following Strider’s departure.

Ritchie was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett prior to Wednesday’s contest and will operate in a long relief capacity out of Atlanta’s bullpen. The 22-year-old top prospect had some early success with the Braves before being sent back to the minors last month. His stuff should play up in shorter bursts out of the bullpen, but the lack of volume certainly diminishes his immediate fantasy appeal.

Ritchie was sent back down to the minors on May 19th after pitching to a 4.91 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 21/16 K/BB ratio in 25 2/3 innings with the Braves. There doesn’t seem to be an open spot for him in the rotation, but Braves beat writer Grant McAuley suggested the move could signal “the possibility of shifting Grant Holmes to the bullpen.” We’ll have to wait and see if that’s what the Braves are planning to do, but Ritchie does not need to be added in fantasy leagues right now.

After a solid MLB debut, it’s been downhill for Ritchie, who now has a 4.91 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, and 21/16 K/BB ratio in 25 2/3 MLB innings. Many people had added him in hopes of a solid two-start week this week, but he will only get one start. It seems that it will be Martín Pérez, who will start on Sunday and get a sneaky good two-start week.