The Atlanta Braves made it official, activating veteran left-hander Dallas Keuchel and scheduling him to start in Friday night’s game at Washington against the Nationals.
The veteran pitcher signed a one-year $13 million deal with the Braves on June 7 after spending seven-plus months on the free-agent market. He prepared for his Braves’ debut by pitching in two minor league games, throwing 101 pitches for Double-A Mississippi on Saturday.
The 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner with the Houston Astros was 12-11 last season for Houston with a 3.74 ERA over 34 starts. He is 76-63 in his career with a 3.66 ERA in 192 appearances (183 starts), all with the Astros.
Since winning his Cy Young Award, the 31-year old was 35-28 with a 3.77 ERA the past three seasons.
Keuchel will take the rotation spot last occupied by Sean Newcomb, who is on the concussion list after he was hit in the back of the head by a comebacker from the Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto on Saturday. Newcomb could be ready to pitch out of Atlanta’s bullpen as early as Wednesday.
To open a spot on the 25-man roster, the Braves optioned right-hander Huascar Ynoa to Triple-A Gwinnett after Thursday’s game.