The Atlanta Braves used their off day Thursday to shuffle the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers roster before opening a three-game series Friday night in Houston.
Atlanta sits first in the National League East at 89-64, 4½ games ahead of Philadelphia. The club is trying to lock down home-field advantage in a potential wild-card series while the Astros and Texas Rangers are tied at 76-76 atop the American League West.
Gwinnett’s regular season ends this weekend, so the farm system made a handful of late adjustments. According to the official transactions list, the Stripers transferred RHP Anderson Pilar to the Development List.
The club also transferred RHP Brett Sears to the Development List.
Gwinnett activated OF Patrick Clohisy from the 7-day injured list.
The Stripers transferred OF Kevin Kilpatrick Jr. to the Development List.
Gwinnett activated RHP Michael Grove.
The team activated LHP Bailey Falter.
Grove arrived Tuesday when Atlanta claimed him off waivers from Tampa Bay and immediately optioned him to Triple-A. The 29-year-old right-hander, a former second-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers, has a 5.47 ERA in 156⅓ major league innings across four seasons.
Injuries to his shoulder, knee, groin and lat have limited him. After missing all of 2025 following labrum surgery, he posted a 3.34 ERA in 35 innings this year at Durham.
Falter’s path was shorter. Atlanta acquired the left-hander from Kansas City at the trade deadline along with outfielder Lane Thomas. The Braves designated him for assignment Monday and sent him outright to Gwinnett on Wednesday. He threw 3⅓ scoreless innings in two big-league appearances after 10⅓ shutout innings in the minors.
Falter is owed the remainder of a $3.6 million salary, about $232,000, which makes it likely he will accept the assignment rather than elect free agency.
The big-league club has been managing a crowded pitching picture. Reynaldo López landed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right shoulder inflammation. Joe Jiménez began a rehab assignment at Gwinnett. Atlanta recalled right-handers Owen Murphy and JR Ritchie in recent days.
Those moves matter because the Braves have rearranged their rotation so Chris Sale can start the final regular-season game next week and line up for Game 1 of the postseason. Depth arms could be needed in Miami to close the schedule.
Clohisy and Sears had productive minor-league seasons and give Gwinnett extra bodies for the last few games. Pilar and Kilpatrick going to the development list is typical housekeeping as the affiliate winds down.
The series in Houston begins Friday. Tyler Mahle is slated to start the opener against Peter Lambert. Grant Holmes and Martín Pérez are lined up for the weekend. Houston is fighting for a playoff spot after a midweek loss to Kansas City.
Atlanta dropped two of three in Chicago this week. A strong showing against the Astros would help the Braves close out the division and set their October rotation.
The organization has spent September adding and subtracting arms as injuries and roster rules collide. Grove and Falter give Gwinnett extra pitching for the final weekend and give Atlanta options if another vacancy opens on the 40-man roster.
Playoff positioning is tight across both leagues. The Braves are expected to finish as the No. 3 seed in the National League if they hold serve. Every remaining start and bullpen inning is being managed with October in mind.
