Braves place Perez on DL with bruised foot
Young righty dealing with swelling after being hit in left foot by comebacker
PITTSBURGH -- The Braves did not wait long to place Williams Perez on the 15-day disabled list with a bruised left foot. Now, they simply need to decide who will assume his spot in the starting rotation for at least the next couple of weeks.
Manny Banuelos appears to be the most likely candidate to make what would have been Perez's next scheduled start on Thursday against the Nationals. Banuelos was scheduled to start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday. This puts him in line to make Thursday's start on regular rest.
Perez exited Friday night's loss to the Pirates shortly after his left foot was struck with Josh Harrison's fifth-inning comebacker. Although X-rays showed no structural damage, the Braves' right-hander awoke on Saturday morning dealing with the discomfort created by the swelling that increased overnight.
"It was worse than I thought it would be. I woke up with a lot of pain," Perez said with Braves coaching assistant Horacio Ramirez interpreting.
When Perez returned to PNC Park on Saturday, he was still wearing the walking boot he was given after exiting Friday's game. The 24-year-old pitcher is hopeful that he will be ready to rejoin Atlanta's starting rotation immediately after the All-Star break.
Perez has gone 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA in the eight starts he has made since joining Atlanta's starting rotation on May 20. He had completed 4 2/3 scoreless innings on Friday before he was forced to make an abrupt exit.
The Braves filled Perez's roster spot by purchasing right-handed reliever Jake Brigham's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett. Brigham, 27, will serve as a long-relief option in Atlanta's bullpen.