In need of innings, Braves swing deal for Giants RHP Mahle

ATLANTA -- Tyler Mahle will attempt to be the innings eater the Braves need within their starting rotation.

Mahle was acquired from the Giants in exchange for Minor League reliever Anthony Molina on Sunday night, less than 24 hours before the Trade Deadline at 6 p.m. ET on Monday evening. The 31-year-old right-hander posted a 5.13 ERA over 18 starts for San Francisco this year.

While the Braves seemingly need a playoff-caliber starter to pair with Chris Sale, Mahle has the potential to at least provide the length the Braves haven’t received from many of their starters this year.

Sale and Bryce Elder have both completed six or more innings 13 times this year. Grant Holmes (five), Martín Pérez (three), Spencer Strider (two), Reynaldo López (one) and JR Ritchie (one) have combined to do so 11 times for the Braves this year.

Mahle has completed six innings just three times this year, but he has completed 5 2/3 innings seven times and he has worked into the sixth in 10 of his 18 starts.

Mahle missed a month with a strained left hamstring he suffered in late May. He returned from the injured list on June 24 and posted a 3.06 ERA over his next six starts. The righty’s strong run ended Saturday night, when the Padres tagged him for five earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. But he did register nine strikeouts in the outing.

The newest addition to Atlanta’s rotation has a 4.19 ERA over 160 career appearances (159 starts). He has previously pitched for the Reds, Twins and Rangers. He has been injury-plagued since posting a 3.75 ERA over 33 starts for Cincinnati in 2021.

Molina made three relief appearances during his brief stints with Atlanta this year. His most recent came against the Giants on June 16, when he allowed two earned runs over two innings in a 7-2 loss.