After another disappointing start by Spencer Strider, Brian Snitker and the Atlanta Braves turned to multiple relievers to try and get the team through the game. Both Austin Cox and Daysbel Hernandez covered multiple innings, which prompted the Braves to make a bullpen shuffle on Tuesday morning.
While Austin Cox survived the move, Daysbel Hernandez and Hunter Stratton were optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett as the Braves recalled Dane Dunning and Connor Seabold.
The #Braves today recalled RHP Dane Dunning and RHP Connor Seabold to Atlanta, after optioning RHP Daysbel Hernández and RHP Hunter Stratton to Triple-A Gwinnett following last night’s game.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 19, 2025
Braves bring fresh arms up to the bullpen
Braves fans might remember Dane Dunning's brief stint with the big league club last month. Dunning was acquired as depth right as the second half began and appeared in four games with the Braves, allowing nine runs in 5.2 innings. Dunning's only scoreless outing came against his former club, the Texas Rangers, where he pitched two perfect innings, striking out four.
Dunning's 4.88 FIP compared to his 14.29 ERA with Atlanta suggests he got slightly unlucky, but it's still not a pretty sight. For the season, the 30-year-old has a 7.16 ERA in 16.1 innings for the Rangers and the Braves, but has had success in his 11 innings with the Stripers, allowing just one earned run.
Connor Seabold was recently claimed by the Braves in an under-the-radar move last week. The 29-year-old was appeared in three games this year for the Tampa Bay Rays and had a 1.35 ERA in 6.2 innings.
Seabold has been less successful in the minors, however, as he's allowed 44 earned runs (6.29 ERA) in 61 innings between the Durham Bulls and the Gwinnett Stripers.
Both Seabold and Dunning have been starters for most of their career and shouldn't have any issue going multiple innings if needed. Either way, these moves are likely just to give the Braves some extra depth at least through the series with the White Sox, though it is surprising the club isn't testing out a few prospects at the big league level.