ATLANTA -- Peter Moylan expected to spend next week making the preparations necessary to slowly return from the disabled list. But those plans abruptly changed Saturday afternoon, when Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino was once again sidelined because of right shoulder inflammation.
Less than an hour before the start of Saturday's 3-0 loss to the D-backs at SunTrust Park, the Braves announced Vizcaino was placed back on the 10-day DL and Moylan was activated.
"I was watching Viz throw [Saturday afternoon] and he didn't look and he didn't feel good [Friday night] warming up," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "That's why we wanted to see how it was today, and it wasn't good. It's the same thing we put him on the DL before with. We've got to get it calmed down."
Vizcaino missed a little more than two weeks when his right shoulder discomfort increased to the point he had to be placed on the DL near the end of June. The Braves anticipated he would battle soreness over the remainder of the season, but it is certainly concerning to see him return to the DL just three appearances after being activated.
With Vizcaino sidelined, the Braves will continue to utilize A.J. Minter as their primary closer. Dan Winkler would be the backup option.
Moylan has been on the DL since July 2 with a right forearm strain. The 39-year-old reliever has continued to throw over the past week, but he was hoping to begin throwing off a mound again next week and then make some relief appearances during a Minor League rehab assignment.
"Peter felt good and he's been through these wars," Snitker said. "In a perfect world, we would have liked to have gotten him out [on a rehab assignment], but he's not going to forget how to pitch. It just kind of sped up on us and he was available."
Rotation plans
Snitker has not set his post-All-Star break rotation. But he has already determined if Mike Foltynewicz pitches during Tuesday night's MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, he will not start during next weekend's series against the Nationals.
Snitker will audible if Foltynewicz doesn't make an appearance for the National League. For now, he is planning for Sean Newcomb, Anibal Sanchez and Julio Teheran to serve as his starters during the three-game series.
If Foltynewicz pitches Tuesday, he and Luiz Gohara will serve as Atlanta's starters during the two-game set in Miami (July 23-24). Gohara was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett earlier this week to make a pair of starts in preparation for this potential assignment.
If Gohara is not deemed ready to join Atlanta's rotation at that point, the Braves would likely have Max Fried start the finale against the Marlins. But before making him an option to return to the Majors, the club would rather have Fried test the bothersome blister region on his left middle finger during a couple of starts for Gwinnett.