MILWAUKEE -- Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell was introduced to yet another pitcher on Monday, when the Braves placed Chris Withrow on the disabled list and filled his roster spot with Chaz Roe, a right-handed reliever who was claimed off waivers from the Orioles on Sunday.
Withrow will spend the next couple weeks resting an inflamed right elbow. The right-handed reliever's velocity has remained relatively normal recently, but he has allowed one solo home run in two of his past three appearances. Before this span of three appearances (from July 31 to Thursday), he had limited opponents to a .200 batting average and one earned run over a 15 1/3-inning stretch that dated back to June 14.
Braves manager Brian Snitker hoped a couple days of rest might be sufficient, but Withrow's elbow did not respond favorably when he attempted to throw Sunday. Team doctors will evaluate the elbow in Atlanta later this week.
Withrow missed a portion of 2014 and all of the '15 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
"It is in the back of your mind," Snitker said of Withrow's surgery. "He's done a great job so far getting this far. We just want to check it out and make sure. He couldn't pitch Sunday. Instead of waiting, waiting, waiting and going short in the bullpen, we just went ahead and had him looked at to hopefully take this time, get him back well and have him finish the year."
If Roe pitches, he will become the 31st pitcher Atlanta has used this season. Roberto Hernandez, Rob Whalen, Brandon Cunniff and Madison Younginer have all made their season debut for the Braves within the last week.
Roe allowed four earned runs in 9 2/3 innings before the Orioles designated him for assignment on July 29. The 29-year-old reliever posted a 4.14 ERA while making a career-high 36 appearances for Baltimore last year. He pitched for the D-backs in 2013 and made three appearances for the '14 Yankees.