ATLANTA -- After spending this season's first five months with a Royals club destined for 100 losses, Lucas Duda is looking forward to being introduced to the thrills he experienced while helping the Mets reach the postseason in 2015 and '16.
"I've been in a pennant race before, and I know the feeling," Duda said. "I'm glad to be back in that situation and [to] help out any way I can."
Looking to bolster their bench for the stretch run, the first-place Braves acquired Duda from the Royals on Wednesday and welcomed him to the club before Thursday night's makeup game against the Cubs at SunTrust Park. The 32-year-old veteran provides the left-handed power potential Atlanta's bench has lacked throughout the season.
"He's definitely a guy the other [team] is going to be aware of," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "I think it's a really good acquisition for us."
Having tallied at least 27 homers in three of the past four seasons, Duda provides the Braves' bench the power source it lacked as Ryan Flaherty spent most of this season as the team's top left-handed pinch-hit option.
Duda slashed .242/.310/.413 with 13 homers in 345 plate appearances for the Royals this year. He hit .267 (59-for-221) with 11 homers and an .808 OPS against right-handed pitchers.
"He's probably faced most of the guys he's going to be facing," Snitker said. "We're excited to get him. He's just another exciting piece to help us in our quest."
AFL participants
Outfielder Cristian Pache headlines the list of four Braves who will compete in this year's Arizona Fall League. Ranked by MLB Pipeline as baseball's 55th-best prospect and the fifth-best prospect in Atlanta's system, Pache has combined to hit .285 with nine homers and a .734 OPS for Class A Advanced Florida and Double-A Mississippi this year.
Andruw Jones considers Pache to be the best defensive outfielder in the Braves' organization. This includes Ender Inciarte, who has won a Gold Glove Award in each of the past two seasons.
Outfielder Isranel Wilson and a pair of infielders -- Ray-Patrick Didder and Braxton Davidson -- will also represent the Braves on the Peoria Javelinas. Atlanta will announce which of its pitchers will participate at a later date.
Bullpen update
Snitker was among those who were under the impression that reliever Jose Ramirez would miss the remainder of this season. But the Braves' manager said Ramirez's shoulder has improved enough for him to possibly make a couple appearances for Triple-A Gwinnett within the next few days.
While the Braves do not know whether Ramirez will be ready to rejoin Atlanta's bullpen for the first time since April, there is still some hope that former closer Arodys Vizcaino's shoulder will prove durable enough for him to make some appearances in September.