Transaction: Dylan Dodd officially called up to start tonight's game vs Pittsburgh

The Braves are using the lefty to give some of the regulars rest and to line up the rotation for next week at Philadelphia

The Atlanta Braves have called up lefty Dylan Dodd to start tonight's game versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

The #Braves today recalled LHP Dylan Dodd to Atlanta after optioning RHP Ben Heller to Triple-A Gwinnett following last night’s game.

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 9, 2023

As we discussed yesterday, the original plan to start Darius Vines today was blown up when he needed to enter Wednesday's game, one that saw Spencer Strider make it only 2.2 innings. 

Dodd, 25, is 2-1 with a 7.40 ERA in his five major league starts this season, striking out 12 in 24.1 innings with 8 walks. One of the two final candidates for the 5th starter role in spring training, he technically lose the job to Jared Shuster but ended up starting in the first week of the season anyway after Max Fried went on the IL after Opening Day. He made two starts before being sent back down to AAA Gwinnett, and then bounced back and forth as a spot starter until June. 

Going on the minor-league IL for a while with an unspecified injury, he came back in early August and made five starts for Gwinnett. On the season for AAA, he's 3-6 with a 6.55 ERA in his 14 games (13 starts), striking out 55 in his 66 innings of work with 27 walks. 

The corresponding move for Atlanta was to send Ben Heller back to Gwinnett. Claimed off of waivers from Tampa Bay earlier in the season, he's pitched in 19 games for Atlanta with a 3.86 ERA, striking out 16 and walking 11 in 18.2 innings. 

The rotation now lines up for Spencer Strider, Charlie Morton (who would have been on regular rest for today), and Max Fried to all get starts next week during the four game series in Philadelphia, where Atlanta could conceivably clinch the NL East crown.  

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