Notes: Ynoa staying in rotation for now

April 11th, 2021

ATLANTA -- ’s impressive spot start against the Nationals last Wednesday has earned him a chance to spend at least the next couple of weeks in the Braves’ rotation.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said Ynoa will start against the Marlins on Monday (live on MLB.TV at 7:20 p.m. ET) and against the Cubs on Saturday. His performances will determine how long he keeps the rotation spot many assumed Bryse Wilson would fill until Mike Soroka is activated.

Ynoa has been used to start some bullpen games over these past couple of seasons. Wednesday was the first time he reached five innings, but while blanking the Nationals, the 22-year-old once again showed his tremendous potential.

Ynoa averaged 96 mph and touched 99 with his four-seam fastball. The 11 balls put in play against him had an 87.1 mph exit velocity, which is below league average.

Wilson will continue keeping a starter’s schedule at the team’s alternate training site.

Speaking of Soroka
Snitker said Soroka was at the stadium working out and continuing to rehab on Sunday. There was some hope the 22-year-old hurler would join Atlanta’s rotation by the end of the month. But his right shoulder flared up last week as he continued to distance himself from last year’s torn right Achilles tendon.

“He's disappointed, but it’s like I told him -- there’s nothing you can do about it,” Snitker said. “I mean, it's just one of those things. I said things happen for a reason. I know it's hard to justify that. But I think down the road, he’ll probably look back on this and understand there's a reason why it happened.”

No surgery for Martin
The Braves don’t know when Chris Martin might be healthy enough to rejoin the bullpen. But it doesn’t appear that their top setup man will need to undergo shoulder surgery.

Martin was removed from last Sunday’s game in Philadelphia because of numbness in his fingers. He was placed on the injured list on Saturday with right shoulder inflammation.

“Everything structurally is good,” Snitker said. “It's just inflammation. It just takes a little time.”