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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop/Box: Read ’em and Weep

By Alan Carpenter

Apr 10, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Erick Aybar (1) chases after a deflected ground ball against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Erick Aybar (1) chases after a deflected ground ball against the St. Louis Cardinals during the third inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 12, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Dan Winkler (58) throws during the seventh inning of a spring training baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Dan Winkler (58) throws during the seventh inning of a spring training baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Braves reliever Daniel Winkler fractures elbow, out indefinitely

ZACH DILLARD / FOX SPORTS SOUTH

Reliever Daniel Winkler, one of the few bright spots during Atlanta’s difficult start to the season, fractured his right elbow during the seventh inning of Sunday’s loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

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The injury will sideline the 26-year-old right-hander indefinitely. He will undergo an MRI on Monday.

“Just got the cutter away and all of a sudden just heard a crack,” Winkler said. “I knew exactly what it was right when it happened.

” … All that was running through my mind was, ‘Not now. Not again.’ Hopefully the ligament’s still fine and it’s just (the) bone. Hopefully just gotta let it heal. We’ll see.”

…

“Like I told Fredi (Gonzalez), he came up to me and I said, ‘I know I can compete up here. I know I should be up here.’ That’s probably the most frustrating part about it is I just can’t get healthy,” Winkler said. “It’s like sit out for a year and a half or two years and now this happens again.”

Added Gonzalez: “He was pitching lights-out.”

As other parts of Atlanta’s bullpen have struggled through the first two series, Winkler had yet to allow a hit or run on the board.

In terms of replacements, the franchise could look to recall rookie John Gant, who was sent down to make room for veteran reliever Chris Withrow, or right-handers Danny Burawa, Casey Kelly or Ryan Weber, or look to choose from lefties Ian Krol and Matt Marksberry. (Right-hander Shae Simmons opened the season on the 15-day disabled list, but could be available in the near future as well.) The organization boasts more quality bullpen options than a year ago, but Winkler, given how well he was pitching and his high strikeout potential, is a significant loss.

Ed. note:  – “indefinitely” is the word, though certainly it will be through the rest of the baseball season, given that we are talking about a pitching arm.  A.J. Pollock broke his elbow just before opening the season, but regardless of the exact nature of the injury, it’s much different for an outfielder.  Godspeed on the healing process, Dan.

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