Josh Collmenter designated for assignment, Matt Wisler recalled by Atlanta Braves

Josh Collmenter earned some goodwill with three strong performances (2.37 ERA in 19 innings) for the Atlanta Braves at the end of the 2016 season. With that in mind, the veteran right-hander was installed as the team’s primary long reliever for 2017 and, for a brief moment in the offseason, there was even buzz that he could end up in the starting rotation.

After just 17 innings and 11 appearances in 2017, however, Collmenter was designated for assignment on Thursday morning.

The timing does not come as any great surprise, as Collmenter was unceremoniously shelled on Wednesday. The Braves fell by a 12-5 margin in extra innings and it was Collmenter that allowed all seven runs to cross the plate in the 10th frame. That performance certainly skews his season-long numbers (9.00 ERA) but even before Collmenter took the mound on Wednesday, he sported an unsightly 5.63 ERA.

In his stead, the Braves have recalled Matt Wisler, who would presumably serve in the long relief role moving forward. The 24-year-old has not been fantastic in the minors this season (5.20 ERA in 36.1 innings) and Wisler’s MLB profile for 2017 (12.60 ERA in four appearances) isn’t anything to be excited about. Still, he is a familiar name and likely the obvious choice in an event such as this.

Stay tuned.