ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves optioned right-hander Owen Murphy to Triple-A Gwinnett and selected the contract of veteran right-hander Elieser Hernández before Sunday's game against the Texas Rangers.
Murphy, 22, allowed three runs, two earned, in 2 2/3 innings in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Rangers in his first major league start.
Braves manager Walt Weiss said Murphy “threw fine” but “left some pitches over the plate. It was more about execution than anything else.”
Hernández, 31, last pitched in the majors in 2024, when he compiled a combined 6.32 ERA in nine games for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers. In six seasons, Hernández is 10-22 with a 5.10 ERA in 99 games, including 49 starts.
Weiss acknowledged the Braves have some important decisions to make regarding their pitching staff before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Left-hander Martín Pérez, who has been on the injured list since July 6 with a left forearm contusion, threw in the bullpen on Sunday. Right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver may be close to completing his rehabilitation following right elbow surgery.
Weiss said Saturday that Pérez “is on the radar” and close to coming off the IL. Weiss said Smith Shawver “will be in the conversation” after throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his last start for Gwinnett.
“We need to take a step forward with our starting pitching,” Weiss said. “The guys have done it. They’ve been good this year, especially early on for a few months. So it’s certainly in there. But yeah, we’ve got to put together some good starts.”
The Braves' lineup also could receive a boost within a few days. Ronald Acuña Jr. (strained left hamstring) could be close to coming off the injured list as he continues his rehab at Gwinnett.
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Atlanta Braves pitcher Martín Pérez delivers to a New York Mets batter during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Owen Murphy (73) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Owen Murphy (73) works against the Texas Rangers in the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
NEW DELHI, India (AP) — Supporters of India’s youth-led “cockroach” movement faced police batons and tear gas as they tried to march to Parliament to demand the education minister’s resignation. The Cockroach Janta Party emerged in May after a Supreme Court judge compared unemployed youth to “cockroaches.” Leaks of exam papers crucial to the future of many young people had sparked public anger. The movement has taken on political weight and called for more widespread reforms. Senior officials have taken a hard line against the movement.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Police stop supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A supporter of the Cockroach Janta Party reacts during clashes with police as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Police use batons to disperse supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
A policeman fires tear gas to disperse supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Injured supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party lie on the ground during clashes with police as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Policewomen detain a supporter of the Cockroach Janta Party as she along with others attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
An injured police officer is taken for treatment after being hurt during clashes with supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party attempting to march toward India's Parliament in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Police detains a supporter of the Cockroach Janta Party as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party try to neutralize a tear gas shell fired by police as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Prakash Singh)
Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party shout anti government slogans as they they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Police detains a supporter of the Cockroach Janta Party as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026.(AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party carry an injured protester during a clash with the police as they they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party try to neutralize a tear gas shell fired by police as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Prakash Singh)
Supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party scuffle with police as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
Police use batons to disperse supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party as they attempt to march toward India's Parliament, demanding the resignation of the education minister, in New Delhi, India, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
