MIAMI -- Braves left-hander Sean Newcomb's return to the Majors was so sudden that he didn't have a uniform belt waiting for him at his locker upon his arrival at Marlins Park on Saturday.

Atlanta recalled Newcomb after optioning rookie right-hander Touki Toussaint to Triple-A Gwinnett following Friday night's 7-2 win over the Marlins.

The Braves had sent the 25-year-old southpaw to the Minors on April 14 after opening the season by walking eight batters over 12 1/3 innings in three starts. His strikeout rate per nine innings had dropped from 9.1 from 2017-18 to 3.6 in '19, while his walk rate jumped from 4.7 to 5.8.

"Definitely wanting to be here and all, but I think taking a step back and being able to focus on what you need to work on and take it slow and not worrying about the things you can't control make it easier," Newcomb said.

Toussaint threw 76 pitches over four innings in relief of Kevin Gausman, who was ejected after throwing behind Jose Urena in the second on Friday. Toussaint, Atlanta's sixth-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline, will return to the Stripers' rotation after being recalled prior to Friday's opener to provide length in the bullpen.

Newcomb, who was scheduled to start for Gwinnett on Saturday, will be available as a long man, according to Braves manager Brian Snitker.

"That's exactly why he's here because it's his day to throw," Snitker said. "...You feel for them because it becomes survival in that Triple-A mode. That's really what it's there for. Like I say, it's good that we have guys we can bring up, put in those situations."

In Newcomb's first start back at Triple-A upon his demotion, the command issues continued as he walked four batters in 5 2/3 frames. Over the next two outings, however, he struck out 10 and didn't issue a free pass over 13 innings.

"Just felt like I was getting in a groove, honestly," said Newcomb, who credited consistency for his turnaround. "Nothing really specifically stood out."

Switching up the rotation?

After hinting that right-hander Gausman could return to the mound before his next scheduled day to start, Snitker provided a possible date: Monday's series opener against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Gausman threw just 28 pitches prior to his ejection for throwing behind Marlins pitcher Urena on Friday night.

"We may bring him back early," Snitker said. "We're talking about that. We'll probably know a little bit more when the day's over. We could in essence bring him back Monday, and that would give everybody an extra day, which might work out pretty good."

Venters nearing a return

Left-handed reliever Jonny Venters, on the injured list since April 15 with a right calf strain, completed his fifth consecutive scoreless rehab outing for Gwinnett on Friday night. Over five innings, he has allowed two hits, with three strikeouts and one walk.

"Really good yesterday," Snitker said of Venters' outing. "Everything came out great. We'll be evaluating him the next couple of days. I think something will happen here before long because he's doing exactly what we wanted him to: Go down there, pitch a little bit, get consistent work and get everything going. It looks like he has."

Worth noting

Left-hander Jesse Biddle (right thigh contusion/right groin strain) pitched a scoreless fifth inning and earned the win in his first Major League rehab assignment for Gwinnett. He struck out a batter and needed 12 pitches (seven strikes) to retire the side in the rain-shortened game.