Kris Medlen Leaves Game With Apparent Arm Injury *Updated*

The Braves removed Kris Medlen with one out in the fifth inning with an apparent arm injury. Bobby Cox came out and talked with Medlen before removing him. Will update as soon as more details become available.

*Update* – Bad news, Medlen will have an MRI but it is an Ulnar Collateral Ligament injury. Best case scenario that this is just a strain. That is why it appeared that he lost feeling in his forearm. For those that are not aware a severe injury to Ulnar Collateral Ligament would require Tommy John surgery. One of the worst injuries that a pitcher can have.

Dave O’Brien weighs in on the injury from Turner Field.

Joe Lucia of Braves Heart says the Braves have two options if the injury is serious.

The way I see it the Braves have two options if Medlen’s injury is serious. Let us be clear that we won’t know for sure the extent of the injury until the results of the MRI are available. Still in all likelihood the Braves will be without Medlen at least in the short term. In preparation for that I see really two options.

One option would be Kenshin Kawakami whom we discussed earlier today. Kawakami appears to be the back up if something happened to a starter and this situation qualifies that. Still he has only pitched one inning since being dropped from the rotation. The question is how quick could he get ready to start stamina wise?

Another option that a lot of Braves fans might like to see is Mike Minor who has pitched well since being promoted to Triple A Gwinnett. Minor appears to be the more popular choice but we will see what the Braves choose to do. Whoever takes Medlen’s spot would be scheduled to pitch this coming Monday in Houston.