Venters can expect more work when he returns

CINCINNATI -- Given he has undergone 3 1/2 Tommy John surgeries, there’s certainly reason to be cautious with Jonny Venters. But like most sinkerballers, the Braves’ 34-year-old reliever is seemingly at his best when his arm is somewhat fatigued.

Thus, when Venters is activated from the injured list, Braves manager Brian Snitker plans to use him more frequently than he did during this season’s first few weeks. The veteran reliever will primarily be used as a situational lefty.

“He’s a matchup guy pretty much,” Snitker said. “So, it’s got to be the right situation. We weren’t in good runs when he was here with the lineups we were facing. But that being said, I think we can rough him up a little more than what we have because he’s healthy and he’s throwing good.”

Venters took a step in the right direction when he pitched around a walk and a hit while tossing a scoreless inning in Triple-A Gwinnett’s 6-2 win over Indianapolis Thursday. Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos was present for the rehab appearance and provided Snitker an encouraging report.

“The reports were his velocity was good and his command was good,” Snitker said. “It sounded like a good outing.”

Venters might make one more rehab appearance for Gwinnett, but Snitker said the club had not finalized a plan. The reliever was placed on the injured list with a calf strain after he retired just eight of the 18 batters he faced through this season’s first six appearances.

Right-handed hitters went 3-for-4 with two homers and a walk against Venters. Given his intended role, the more concerning development occurred as left-handed hitters went 3-for-9 with a double and four walks against him.

On his way to limiting opponents to a .581 OPS and winning the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award last year, Venters limited left-handed hitters to a .133 batting average (8-for-60) and a .200 on-base percentage.

When Venters pitched on a second consecutive day last year, opponents hit .160 with a .382 OPS. When he pitched with one day of rest, they hit .077 and produced a .310 OPS.

The return of a healthy and effective Venters could certainly help the Braves begin repairing their bullpen. The only left-handed middle relief option currently on the roster is Jesse Biddle, who entered Thursday having walked four of the previous seven left-handed hitters he had faced.

Welsh apologizes to Albies

Before Thursday’s game, Fox Sports Ohio Reds television analyst Chris Welsh entered the Braves clubhouse to apologize to second baseman Ozzie Albies for comments he made during Wednesday’s broadcast.

Welsh was discussing the seven-year, $35 million contract extension that Albies recently signed. Welsh insensitively questioned whether the 21-year-old Curacao native’s background influenced his willingness to accept the deal.

“A lot of people are blaming the agent for letting him sign a deal like that,” Welsh said during the broadcast. “But Albies came from a very poor background, he’s from Curaçao, and when somebody offers you $35 million -- he may not know the difference between $35 million and $85 million.”

Albies shook Welsh’s hand at the end of their brief conversation and then said he considered the matter to be over. Welsh also issued an apology to viewers during Thursday’s broadcast.