The Atlanta Braves are running a play they know by heart.
The Braves enter Friday's series opener at Great American Ballpark with the best record in baseball at 38-19, going over their last 10 games. Manager Walt Weiss will have a fresher bullpen heading into the weekend as Atlanta designated veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco for assignment and recalled righty Anthony Molina in a corresponding move.
Carrasco threw four innings in Wednesday’s 8-0 blowout loss to the Boston Red Sox, leaving him unavailable heading into the series against the Cincinnati.
With his roster spot burning a hole in the 40-man roster and no immediate use for him, the Braves did what they have done three times before. Cut him loose until they need innings again.
In 2026, the 39-year-old Carrasco has made four appearances for the Braves, carrying a 2.45 earned run average over 7 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and two earned runs. Wednesday's outing against Boston was his longest outing of the season, throwing four innings of work with two strikeouts and two earned runs.
Carrasco has cleared waivers on each prior occasion, so he'll most certainly be outrighted, elect free agency and resign on another minor league deal within days. It's the fourth time Atlanta has designated him since last August, and the arrangement has become something of a routine around the league.
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The Braves aren't the only team running this operation. The Cleveland Guardians have done it multiple times this season with left-hander Kolby Allard. Atlanta previously did the same thing with another veteran right-hander in Jesse Chavez.
For Carrasco, though, the deal works as he gets to stay sharp in the minors and stay employed 17 years into a big league career.
