ATLANTA -- Martín Pérez prevented the Braves’ bullpen from being taxed, and he also positioned himself to become a part of Atlanta’s rotation during this next turn.
“Martín did an unbelievable job,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said following his team’s 5-2 loss to the A’s at Truist Park on Tuesday. “We had a couple guys down tonight and we weren't going to pitch, we were limited out there [in the bullpen]. Martín was just what the doctor ordered.”
Pérez allowed just two hits over 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his first appearance since right shoulder discomfort caused him to miss the final week of the 2025 season and enter this offseason with uncertainty. The 34-year-old hurler signed a Minor League deal with the Braves and wasn’t deemed ready to pitch at the end of Spring Training.
But after throwing 75-plus pitches in a Minor League game at the Braves’ Spring Training facility last week, he is ready to pitch without any restrictions if asked to start Sunday’s game against the D-backs.
“I’m here to help the team,” Pérez said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s out of the bullpen or if I have to start the game.”
Quite honestly, Pérez could end up helping the Braves in both roles over the next few weeks and possibly months.
Weiss wasn’t ready to say Pérez will start that game in Arizona. But the decision was seemingly made when the team opted to instead start José Suarez on Tuesday and then watched him allow four earned runs over 3 2/3 innings. He allowed five hits and issued three walks while facing 18 batters.
With Pérez and Suarez both pitching three-plus innings and essentially making themselves unavailable over the next four days, there was reason to question whether the Braves would make a roster move.
But Weiss said, “Oh yeah, yeah I do,” when asked if he expected Suarez to be in the clubhouse for Wednesday afternoon’s game against the A’s.
Because Pérez covered the final 13 outs, each of the Braves’ relievers will be available when Chris Sale starts the series finale. If a long reliever is needed, Osvaldo Bido would be utilized.
If Bido isn’t utilized on Wednesday, he would also be a top multi-inning option for the first three games of this week’s series in Arizona. By the time Sunday comes around, both Pérez and Suarez should be available.
Only this time, Pérez seems to be the better option to start.