Cal Quantrill was claimed off waivers on Thursday and will get the ball on Saturday to make his Atlanta debut when the Braves host the New York Mets in the second game of their three-game series.
Quantrill (4-10, 5.50 ERA) will be opposed by New York’s Clay Holmes (10-6, 3.64) in a battle of right-handers.
Quantrill was placed on waivers by the Miami Marlins on Thursday and the Braves, still searching for experienced arms to fill their pitching shortfall, signed the veteran and moved Erick Fedde, Saturday’s originally scheduled starter, to the bullpen. Quantrill will be the 17th different starting pitcher used by the Braves this season.
Quantrill signed a $3.5 million free-agent contract with the Marlins at the beginning of spring training, but it didn’t work out. Over his last three starts, Quantrill has an 11.25 ERA (15 earned runs in 12 innings). In his last start against Boston on Saturday, Quantrill allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings of an eventual 7-5 Red Sox win.
In three career starts against the Mets, he is 0-1 with a 7.07 ERA.
Holmes bounced back from a poor outing and pitched well in his last outing against Seattle on Sunday. He earned the win after allowing only one run over five innings. He had been knocked out in his previous start against the Braves when he surrendered five runs in 3 2/3 innings in a game the Mets ultimately won 13-5.
Holmes, who signed a three-year free-agent contract this season, has mainly been a relief pitcher in his career. This season he was moved to the rotation and has thrown a career-high 131 innings, leading some to believe his struggles of late have been from fatigue, a theory with which Holmes disagreed.
“I started getting a little too fine and then had to go over the plate in counts where I probably shouldn’t have,” Holmes said. “Looking back, I just had to keep going. … When I’m in good counts, I feel like I’ve been pretty good. It’s just stay on the attack for me.”
Holmes has pitched well against the Braves, going 2-1 with a 3.70 ERA in 13 appearances, three of them starts.
New York’s Francisco Lindor went 3-for-5 with a walk, scored two runs and stole two bases on Friday. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He is batting .512 (22-for-43) with 12 runs, five doubles, four homers, eight RBI and four steals during the stretch.
The Mets hammered the Braves 12-7 on Friday, pounding out 21 hits to match their season high and end their two-game losing streak. The highlight for the Braves, who honored the 1995 World Series champions, was the return of manager Bobby Cox, 84, who rode in the lead car of the pregame parade.
“That was awesome,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “He was really excited, as we were to see him. That made my day.”
In addition to adding Quantrill, the Braves activated outfielder Jake Fraley and recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd from Triple-A Gwinnett. Right-handers Connor Seabold and Dane Dunning were optioned to Triple-A and infielder Luke Williams went on the injured list with a strained left oblique.
The Mets could see outfielder Brandon Nimmo (neck stiffness) and second baseman Jeff McNeil (shoulder soreness) return from injuries this weekend.
–Field Level Media
