In kind of a shocking move the Atlanta Braves have designated Bob Wickman for assignment. Wickman pitched in 49 games for the Braves this season and he was 3-3 with 20 saves, a 3.92 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. In 43.2 innings this season Wickman allowed 48 hits, walked 20 batters and whiffed 35. Look for Rafael Soriano and Peter Moylan to hold the fort late in games until Octavio Dotel gets healthy.

Edgar Renteria re-injured his ankle in his first game back and was placed right back on the 15-day disabled list. Renteria is having a fine season for the Braves as he has played in 106 games this year for the Braves and he is 142 for 423 (.336 avg, .879 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 11 homers, 53 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Rookie Yunel Escobar will probably get the bulk of the playing time until Renteria is ready to return. Escobar has played in 65 games this season for the Braves and he is 70 for 219 (.320 avg, .768 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 2 homers and 23 RBIs.

Mark Teixeira is hitting the ball so well since he got into Atlanta that the ball must be looking like a beach ball to him. In 20 games with the Braves this season he is 22 for 76 (.289 avg, 1.100 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 9 homers and 26 RBIs. The Braves need more help from their pitchers if they want to make the playoffs because you can’t blame the offense for losing games. Teixeira has made the whole lineup better in Atlanta since he got to town. He has now played in 98 games this season with the Rangers & Braves and he is 107 for 362 (.296 avg) with 64 runs scored, 22 homers and 75 RBIs.

The Braves gave Sturtze a chance to rehab in the minors but they have decided to let him go. He is 36-years old so he could be nearing the end. He pitched in 12 games in the minors this season and he was 0-6 with a 9.53 ERA and a 2.56 WHIP. In 11.1 innings he allowed 17 hits, walked 12 batters and whiffed 7.

The Braves have placed lefty starter Chuck James on the 15-day disabled list with tightness in the back of his left shoulder. This will hurt the Braves as James has been their third best starting pitcher this season. In 25 starts this season James is 9-9 with a 4.22 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. In 136.1 innings this season James has allowed 140 hits, walked 55 batters and whiffed 97. Jo Jo Reyes will replace James in the rotation and he has not pitched too well for the Braves this season. In 6 starts Reyes is 0-1 with a 9.62 ERA and a 2.05 WHIP this season for the Braves. In 24.1 innings Reyes has allowed 31 hits, 7 homers, walked 19 batters and whiffed only 8.

24 year old switch-hitting infielder Willy Aybar had season ending surgery Tuesday to repair a fractured hamate bone in his right hand. The Braves must decide if they even want Aybar around next season as he has been a nightmare off of the field this year. Still, the kid has talent as he has played in 105 games in his major league career and he is 96 for 329 (.292 avg, .803 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 5 homers and 40 RBIs. This will be interesting to see how the Braves handle the Aybar situation in the off-season.

The Braves have placed righty reliever Octavio Dotel on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. Maybe this explains why he has pitched so poorly for the Braves since they acquired him from the Royals a couple of weeks ago. He has worked 5 games for the Braves this season covering 4.1 innings and he has allowed 4 hits, walked 1 batter and whiffed 5. He is 0-0 with a 8.31 ERA for the Braves. The Braves have recalled reliever Manny Acosta from AAA where he was pitching pretty well.

26 year old righty reliever Manny Acosta has been pitching really well in AAA ball for the Braves. He has worked 40 games this season and he is 9-3 with 12 saves, a 2.26 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has thrown 59.2 innings this season and he has allowed 46 hits, walked 35 batters and whiffed 56. If Acosta keeps pitching as well as he is right now the Braves will likely recall him in September when they can expand their roster.

The Braves have signed Ryan Drese to a minor league contract. Drese still hasn’t pitched this season as he is recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had done last April. Drese will begin his rehab in A ball for the Braves and they hope that he could progress enough to aid them in September. He has pitched in 105 games (96 starts) in his major league career and he is 34-39 with a 5.31 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. In 565.2 innings in his career Drese has allowed 673 hits, walked 213 batters and walked 301. This is a low risk move that could help the Braves a little bit down the road.

The Atlanta Braves have placed shortstop Edgar Renteria on the 15-day disabled list with an ankle injury. This will hurt the Braves a little bit as Renteria is having a fine season for them. In 105 games this year he is 142 for 423 (.336 avg, .879 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 11 homers, 53 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Lucky for the Braves, they didn’t trade rookie shortstop Yunel Escobar who will likely share time with Chris Woodward until Renteria returns from the disabled list. Escobar has played in 47 games this season for the Braves and he is 49 for 150 (.327 avg, .729 OPS) with 24 runs scored, 1 homer, 14 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He will likely get the bulk of the playing time. Woodward has played in 68 games this season and he is 24 for 111 (.216 avg, .554 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 1 homer and 8 RBIs.