NEW YORK -- Right-handed reliever Evan Phillips will now get a legitimate chance to fortify Atlanta's bullpen. Outfielder Michael Reed also will be given a chance, with the Braves promoting him Monday before he exercised the opt-out clause in his contract.
As for closer Arodys Vizcaino, he will need to wait until at least Tuesday to be activated from the disabled list.
Before Monday night's series opener against the Yankees, the Braves recalled Phillips and purchased Reed's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett. Peter Moylan was placed on the 10-day DL with a right forearm strain, and Matt Wisler was optioned to Gwinnett.
Somewhat surprisingly, Vizcaino was not included within this flurry of moves. The Braves opted instead to have the veteran reliever test his right shoulder by focusing on his slider in a bullpen session.
"He felt good again today," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "We'll wait until [Tuesday] to see how he feels. But if he's good, I don't know why we wouldn't bring him back."
Vizcaino's return could fortify the bullpen, which also could benefit from the addition of Phillips -- who did not pitch when he was placed on Atlanta's active roster for about 24 hours last week. Phillips produced a 2.09 ERA with 58 strikeouts over 38 2/3 innings for Gwinnett.
Moylan allowed nine hits, including four home runs, over his past 6 2/3 innings. Snitker said the 39-year-old reliever has been dealing with some forearm and elbow discomfort for a couple of months.
Because Moylan was placed on the DL, the Braves were able to recall Phillips in fewer than 10 days after being optioned.
Reed experienced short stints on Milwaukee's roster from 2015-16. Before being shut down after three months with a back injury, he was stuck at the Brewers' Double-A affiliate. So, it was encouraging for him to hit .369 with a 1.072 OPS over 30 games since the Braves promoted him from Double-A to Triple-A this year.
Snitker is not sure exactly how he'll use Reed, whose promotion was influenced by the opt-out in his contract that would have allowed him to become a free agent had he not been promoted this week.