PHILADELPHIA -- Arodys Vizcaino spent this season's first three months serving a performance-enhancing drug suspension and has made just 32 career appearances at the Major League level. But the once highly-regarded pitching prospect now will get a chance to serve as Atlanta's closer.
With Jason Grilli sidelined by a season-ending Achilles injury and Jim Johnson traded to the Dodgers on Wednesday, Vizcaino will now draw the responsibility of protecting ninth-inning leads for the Braves, who have routinely altered the makeup of their bullpen throughout this season.
Andrew McKirahan, who also missed nearly all of this season's first half while serving a PED suspension, was the only member of the Braves bullpen on Thursday night who was on Atlanta's Opening Day roster.