Boy, that got less exciting in a terrible hurry.
Friday night, Ben Sheets made his eighth start this season for the Atlanta Braves. He didn't survive the fifth inning, and Saturday morning Sheets was placed on the 15-Day Disabled List with shoulder inflammation. His roster spot was filled by veteran right-hander Miguel Batista, who was summoned from Class AAA and will pitch out of the bullpen. It's not yet clear who will fill Sheets' slot in the Braves' rotation.
Sheets missed all of the 2009 and 2011 seasons with injuries, but threw well enough in a try-out earlier this summer to get signed by the Braves. And in his first four starts after joining the club, he went 3-1 with a 1.46 ERA, and a 4-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In his last four starts, though, Sheets' injury woes have returned and his statistics have showed it: 5.70 ERA, with only 10 strikeouts in 23⅔ innings.
Meanwhile, the Braves are reeling. Friday night's loss to the Giants was their sixth in their last seven games, and they're now tied with the Cardinals for the top spot in the National League Wild Card standings.