Jim Johnson to close in Atlanta after Jason Grilli’s injury

July 12, 2015

Atlanta Braves — As we feared last night, Jason Grilli suffered a left Achilles rupture on Saturday night and will miss the rest of the season. Jim Johnson will be the new closer for the Braves, with Luis Avilan, David Aardsma, and Arodys Vizcaino backing him up.

Hierarchy remains: Johnson | Avilan | Aardsma.

Detroit Tigers – The Tigers signed Neftali Feliz after his release by Texas and immediately used him in the eighth inning of a four-run loss. Feliz delivered a scoreless inning and was throwing in the mid- to high-90s. Brad Ausmus said that Feliz, like the rest of Detroit’s non-Joakim Soria relievers, would not have any set role going forward, and that although he would try to ease Feliz into high-leverage work, he wouldn’t be afraid to trust him with it down the road.

Hierarchy remains: Soria | Rondon | Alburquerque.

Toronto Blue Jays — Bo Schultz, former right fielder for Brooklyn beer league softball powerhouse Turkey’s Nest (“Motto: gobble, gobble, gobble”), has risen from walk-on outfielder at Northwestern and Men’s Journal summer intern to late-inning stalwart for the Blue Jays. On Saturday, Schultz protected a one-run lead in the eighth against Kansas City.

Updated hierarchy: Osuna | Delabar | Schultz.

Cincinnati Reds — The Reds suffered through their worst inning in 54 years and Manny Parra took much of the damage, facing five batters and allowing all five to reach on hits and score. Parra’s ERA rose from 1.65 to 4.41 as a result.

Hierarchy remains: Chapman | Hoover | Parra.

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— Huston Street is unavailable through the All-Star break.