Fantasy News

• Braves' A.J. Minter: Picks up win Sunday

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Minter (2-1) struck out the side in a perfect eighth inning Sunday to record the win over the Marlins. It was very nearly an immaculate inning, but Minter fired a fastball just off the plate on his first pitch to Jesus Sanchez before getting him to chase three straight cutters. The southpaw then got rewarded for his performance when Marcell Ozuna launched a game-winning homer in the top of the ninth. Minter is curiously still looking for his first hold of 2024, but he's otherwise been outstanding in a high-leverage role, posting a 2.57 ERA, 0.43 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB through seven innings.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Works in relief Wednesday

  Rotowire Mar 21, 2024

  Minter (finger) retired two of the five batters he faced Wednesday in Atlanta's 10-9 Grapefruit League win over the Blue Jays, striking out one while giving up an unearned run on one hit and one walk. Minter made his first appearance since March 8 after he spent nearly two weeks recovering from a cut on his left index finger. Though he wasn't at his sharpest Wednesday, Minter should be locked into a key setup role in front of closer Raisel Iglesias once the regular season gets underway next week.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Expected back soon

  Rotowire Mar 11, 2024

  Minter (finger) is expected to make a Grapefruit League appearance soon, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. Minter hasn't pitched in a game since Feb. 29 because of a cut on his left index finger, but the laceration is nearly totally healed. The left-handed reliever made two scoreless Grapefruit League appearances last month and has plenty of time to ramp back up for Opening Day.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Receives $6.22 million from Atlanta

  Rotowire Jan 11, 2024

  Atlanta and Minter avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $6.22 million contract, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports. It's a well-earned raise for Minter in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander's 3.76 ERA in 2023 was a tad elevated, but he boasted an 82:21 K:BB over 64.2 innings while notching 10 saves. Minter will be counted on in high-leverage spots again in 2024.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Rehab appearance on tap

  Rotowire Jul 23, 2023

  Minter (shoulder) will make a rehab appearance at Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports. Minter has been on the injured list since mid-July due to mild left shoulder inflammation, but he felt good after throwing a bullpen session Saturday. His rehab assignment should be the final step in his recovery process before he's cleared to rejoin Atlanta's bullpen.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Throws bullpen session

  Rotowire Jul 22, 2023

  Minter (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Minter felt good during and after the workout, and manager Brian Snitker said the lefty could soon head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 29-year-old reliever has been on the injured list since July 15 due to mild left shoulder inflammation.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Exits with apparent injury

  Rotowire Jul 8, 2023

  Minter exited Saturday's game against the Rays with an apparent injury, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Minter was called upon to work the eighth inning while protecting a four-run lead. He retired the first batter he faced but was forced from the game immediately after. The nature of the issue is currently unclear.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Notches save No. 10

  Rotowire Jun 15, 2023

  Minter struck out the only batter he faced to record his 10th save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Tigers during the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader. Raisel Iglesias worked the ninth inning in the matinee in a non-save situation, so Minter got the call in the nightcap after Joe Jimenez had breezed through the eighth and got the first two outs in the ninth. The southpaw has three saves in his last four games, and while Iglesias remains Atlanta's closer, manager Brian Snitker will likely continue to turn to Minter when Iglesias is unavailable.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Nabs second save in four days

  Rotowire Jun 11, 2023

  Minter earned a save against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit in one inning. Closer Raisel Iglesias had pitched the previous two days for Atlanta, so Minter was called upon to close things out with the team up by three runs in the ninth inning. Minter served up a homer to Stone Garrett to begin his outing but retired the next three batters to close things out. It was the second save in four days for Minter, who is now up to nine on the season. He's clearly Atlanta's first choice to close when Iglesias is unavailable, but that likely won't amount to enough opportunities to notch more than a handful of additional saves the remainder of the campaign.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Picks up win in Arizona

  Rotowire Jun 5, 2023

  Minter (3-5) collected the win in Sunday's come-from-behind victory over the Diamondbacks, striking out one in two-thirds of an inning without allowing a run. He needed 10 pitches (seven strikes) to notch the final two outs of the eighth inning and preserve a one-run deficit, making Minter the pitcher of record when Eddie Rosario launched a grand slam in the top of the ninth. The southpaw has struggled with his consistency this season, and since Raisel Iglesias returned from the IL in early May and reclaimed the closer role, Minter has a 5.06 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB over 10.2 innings.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Picks up save Thursday

  Rotowire May 4, 2023

  Minter allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Thursday's 6-3 win over Miami. Minter has dealt with some trouble in recent outings, but Atlanta's lead was never in danger Thursday. This was just his third scoreless effort in his last seven appearances. He has a 7.47 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 19:3 K:BB across 15.2 innings this season and is 7-for-9 in save chances, though Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) is nearing his return to the injured list and should quickly reclaim closing duties.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Nabs sixth save

  Rotowire May 2, 2023

  Minter earned a save in the first game of Monday's doubleheader against the Mets, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one batter over one inning. Minter inherited a 9-7 lead in the ninth inning and retired the first two batters he faced. Eduardo Escobar then tagged him for a solo homer, but Minter got Brett Baty to line out to end the contest and earn the save. Despite the successful outcome, the run the southpaw allowed marked the fourth time in his past five outings that he has been scored upon. Over that stretch, Minter has taken three losses and a blown save while allowing 11 earned runs across 4.2 frames. With Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) expected back by the end of the week, Minter probably won't hang onto the closer role much longer.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Stunned by Miami

  Rotowire Apr 27, 2023

  Minter (1-3) took the loss in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Marlins. He allowed five runs on five hits while striking out two over two-thirds of an inning. Minter entered the ninth inning with a 4-0 lead. He'd ultimately surrender five runs on five hits en route to a 5-4 loss. Minter has struggled mightily recently, allowing 10 earned runs in his last 3.2 innings. His ERA is up to 8.53 with a 1.42 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB while going 5-for-7 in save opportunities. Minter was likely to lose the closing role with Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) nearing a return, though his recent performance may force Atlanta to expedite a change in the back of their bullpen.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Notches fourth save

  Rotowire Apr 18, 2023

  Minter picked up a save against San Diego on Monday with a scoreless inning of work during which he struck out one batter. Minter entered the contest in the ninth frame with Atlanta up two runs. The southpaw needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in order and secure a save for the second straight day. Minter has been very effective as Atlanta's closer with Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) on the injured list, going 4-for-5 in save chances and posting a 2.00 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB over nine innings. Iglesias is likely to be out for at least another week, so Minter will retain short-term fantasy value, though there's a strong chance that he'll be cast back to a setup role once Iglesias returns.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Picks up third save

  Rotowire Apr 16, 2023

  Minter picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning to close Sunday's victory over the Royals. He had one strikeout and didn't allow a baserunner. Minter entered the ninth inning protecting a 5-4 lead and quickly retired Matt Duffy and Nicky Lopez before striking out Bobby Witt to earn his fourth save. Minter has allowed only two runs through eight innings of relief work and has converted on three of four save opportunities this season.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Snags second save

  Rotowire Apr 13, 2023

  Minter earned the save against the Reds on Wednesday with a perfect inning of work during which he struck out one batter. After Atlanta took a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, the team turned to Minter to close things out in the ninth. He needed just 13 pitches to do so, retiring the side in order and fanning Jonathan India to record the final out. Minter has converted two of three save chances this season and has held the opponent scoreless in all but one of his seven outings thus far.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Nabs win Thursday

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2023

  Minter (1-0) picked up the win in Thursday's 7-6 victory over the Padres, giving up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning while striking out one. The southpaw walked the first batter he faced in the top of the ninth and put runners on first and second with one out, but Minter coaxed a double play out of Xander Bogaerts to escape the jam. He was then rewarded with the win after Orlando Arcia's walkoff single in the bottom of the frame. Minter hasn't allowed a run through four innings to begin the season, collecting a win and and save in his four appearances, and with Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) still not throwing, his stint as Atlanta's closer should last at least another couple weeks, if not right on into May.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Notches first save

  Rotowire Apr 4, 2023

  Minter picked up the save with a scoreless ninth inning to close out Tuesday's 4-1 victory over St. Louis. He had one strikeout and didn't allow a baserunner. Minter needed just 11 pitches to retire the side in order and secure his first save of the season. The left-hander is coming off a dominant 2022 campaign during which he had a 2.06 ERA and 94:15 K:BB across 70 innings, and he should continue to operate as Atlanta's fill-in closer until Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) is able to return from the injured list.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Works ninth in non-save situation

  Rotowire Mar 31, 2023

  Minter walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Thursday's during a 7-2 win over the Nationals. Atlanta was only up 4-2 heading into the top of the ninth but tacked on three more runs in its half of the frame, erasing the save situation for Minter. It's still reassuring that he was the clear choice to close out of the game for manager Brian Snitker, but with Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) hoping to return in mid-April, there may be only a handful of save opportunities for Minter before he gets bumped back to a setup role.

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• Braves' A.J. Minter: Could fill in at closer

  Rotowire Mar 23, 2023

  Raisel Iglesias was diagnosed with low-grade shoulder inflammation Thursday and will begin the season on the injured list, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports, and Minter could be in line for some saves while the closer is sidelined. Iglesias will be shut down for at least the next week while he deals with the shoulder issue. Minter has had a rough spring but remains the probable fill-in option for Iglesias after posting a brilliant 2.06 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 94:15 K:BB over 70 innings during 2022. Joe Jimenez is also a candidate.

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