ATLANTA, GA - JULY 31: Elieser Hernndez #57 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the seventh inning during the game against the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on July 31, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThe Atlanta Braves have once again activated the DFA Cycle and the latest passenger is none other than Elieser Hernndez. Following another one-appearance stint with Atlanta, Hernndez has been designated for assignment and reliever James Karinchak will be taking his place on the roster for the time being. The #Braves today recalled RHP James Karinchak to Atlanta and designated RHP Elieser Hernndez for assignment. Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 1, 2026Hernndez has actually come up pretty big for the Braves over the past couple of weekends. He tossed three crucial scoreless innings against the Orioles in a situation where Atlanta needed every last one of those outs in order to pull off a dramatic victory. This time, he pitched another three innings but it was clear that he was being used to give the bullpen regulars a spell after they were put into heavy use during the series-opening win over Washington. Either way, the three innings were productive (outside of a homer given up to Andrs Chaparro) and Hernndez did his job while he was here. James Karinchak will be returning to the big league fold for the first time since July 9, which is when he pitched a scoreless inning against the Pirates. Karinchak has pitched 9.2 innings so far and has a 1.86 ERA and a 4.34 FIP so far. Id imagine that hell be in line to get some low-leverage innings on a short-term basis. Pour another one out for Elieser Hernndez, though, who appears to be the strongest soldier given the fate of the DFA Cycle so far.