LOS ANGELES -- Having to react quickly to Mike Foltynewicz needing to spend the next couple of weeks resting his sore right elbow on the disabled list, the Braves provided Bud Norris a chance to make another start and recalled John Gant from Triple-A Gwinnett to provide some bullpen depth.
When the Braves scratched Foltynewicz's from Saturday night's start against the Dodgers and placed him on the DL because of a bone spur in his elbow, they considered giving the start to Gant. But instead of making the rookie right-hander start on the same day he needed to make a cross-country flight, the assignment was given to Norris, who had spent the past month in the Atlanta bullpen.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said he has not decided whether additional starts will be provided to Norris, who posted an 8.54 ERA in the five starts he made before being removed from Atlanta's rotation in late April. The other option would be to provide Gant a chance to fill the rotation spot until Foltynewicz returns.
Gant entered Saturday having posted a 7.00 ERA over the nine innings (five appearances) completed as an Atlanta reliever this year. Though that ERA certainly doesn't enhance his credentials, he turned in two-thirds of a scoreless inning on Saturday and showed some promise as he has posted a 3.15 ERA in seven starts for Gwinnett.