The Atlanta Braves added another win to their record with a 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday night at Tropicana Field. However, it hasn't been a 100 percent rosy night for the MLB-leading Braves, with reliever AJ Minter leaving the game with an apparent injury.
Via David O'Brien of The Athletic:
“A.J. Minter exits with 1 out in the 8th with apparent injury or discomfort of some sort. Chatted with trainer and Snitker, and Kranitz came out as discussion went on. Minter then walked to dugout with trainer. Minter had struck out Diaz to start inning, thew 2 pitches to Franco.”
Meanwhile, Grant McAuley of 92.9 The Game observed that AJ Minter appeared to have hurt his left pectoral muscle.
Hopefully for the Braves, and most especially for AJ Minter, he did not suffer anything serious that would cause him to miss games. He is among the key components of Atlanta's talented pitching staff, notwithstanding his subpar numbers. Among Braves non-starters, Minter entered Saturday's game against the Rays with the highest fWAR (1.0 — fourth overall on the team.)
So far in the 2023 MLB regular season, AJ Minter has a 3-5 record to go along with a 4.91 ERA. He has picked up ten saves in 13 possible chances and is also third on the Braves roster with 11 holds.
With only a game remaining on the schedule for Atlanta before the MLB All-Star break, the Braves will likely allow Minter to use the entire week ahead to rest up.
Minter signed a one-year deal worth $4.2875 million with the Braves last January.