The Atlanta Braves have announced Kris Medlen will replace Jair Jurrjens in the starting rotation if a trade is not made before the deadline to acquire a pitcher. The non-waiver trade deadline is 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 31. Medlen has pitched very well this season in relief and had success as a starter before undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2010.
If Medlen does indeed start, he will be on a pitch count of 75 pitches or so, per manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Jurrjens has struggled for just about all of the season, a start or two in late June notwithstanding. His velocity remains down and it appears his days in Atlanta are numbered.
According to Frank Wren, the Braves will continue looking at ways to improve in the coming days. There is still a chance a starting pitcher is acquired, but it is looking more and more like the club will go with bullpen and bench help instead.