Kelly could start Sunday’s game

The Braves haven’t named a starter to replace the traded Lucas Harrell on Sunday, but Casey Kelly from Triple-A is a leading candidate and probably is the most likely option, barring a trade to acquire another starter.

Kelly pitched seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball Sunday against Buffalo and is scheduled to make his next start today for Triple-A Gwinnett, but could be scratched from that start and recalled by the Braves. He has a 2.42 ERA in four games for Gwinnett since his last stint with the big-league team.

Sunday’s Braves starter won’t be John Gant, who’s on the disabled list recovering from an oblique strain and makes the first of three scheduled rehab starts Tuesday at Single-A Rome. Nor will it be Williams Perez, who is on the DL with a rotator-cuff strain and hasn’t been cleared yet to throw off a mound.

And it won’t be Aaron Blair, who has pitched well in his past few starts at Triple-A. He pitched Wednesday and would be on short rest if he started Sunday. The Braves wouldn’t do that, plus they want him to continue his progress at Triple-A and have a longer period of sustained good results there before they bring the rookie back.