Julio Teheran’s lat problems won’t go away, as the Atlanta Braves ace will miss an extended period of time with a recurrence of the injury.
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Teheran to DL
Tuesday, August 2
The Braves announced Tuesday on Twitter that Teheran was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a right lat strain.
Teheran left his start on July 22 against the Colorado Rockies following an at-bat in the fifth inning due to tightness in his right lat. He sat out the next seven days before making his return Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The 25-year-old Teheran did not look bad against the Phillies. He gave up three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk in five innings.
After the game, Teheran said he didn’t notice anything physically wrong with his body during the start, per Pat James and Todd Zolecki of MLB.com: “I didn’t feel anything like I felt last game, and that’s something good to know. But just the one mistake I made [on the pitch to Jeremy Hellickson]—I think I was doing well until that point.”
If the Braves were competing for a playoff spot right now, they might be able to push Teheran through this injury. They enter play Tuesday with a 37-68 record, the worst in Major League Baseball. There is no need to overextend the right-hander in a lost season.
Teheran is having the best year of his career with a 2.81 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP and 119 strikeouts in 134.2 innings. His absence does leave a massive void in Atlanta’s rotation; MLB.com‘s depth chart currently lists a total of three pitchers, including Teheran.
Finding even a competent rotation to get through the final two months of the season is a big concern for the Braves, but at least they are aware this a rebuilding year and can throw players on the field as needed.
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