Expectations switch for Boyer, O’Flaherty

After Blaine Boyer coughed up a lead and much more by giving up six runs and recording just one out in the sixth inning Thursday against the Yankees, fellow well-traveled veteran Eric O’Flaherty stopped the bleeding by getting the last two outs of the inning.

It was a microcosm of the surprising early spring for both pitchers, familiar former Braves trying to win spots in the opening-day bullpen.

Both signed minor league contracts with invitations to spring training, but Boyer was coming off consecutive quality seasons in a late-career resurgence, while O’Flaherty was coming off another elbow surgery after the lefthander’s injury-plagued difficult season in his return to the Braves in 2016.

So expectations were higher for Boyer, but results so far have been quite the opposite. Boyer, 35, has struggled to get outs in two of four games and allowed 10 runs (nine earned) in four innings (20.25 ERA) over four appearances. He was charged with five earned runs, five hits and a bases-loaded walk to Dustin Fowler on Thursday.

Meanwhile, O’Flaherty has allowed just three hits, one run (1.93 ERA) and two walks with six strikeouts in 4⅔ innings. The run scored Thursday when he came back to pitch the seventh inning and gave up a walk and a double that landed just beyond the outstretched glove of prospect Ronald Acuna when he made a difficult diving-catch attempt in right-center field.

Also Thursday, utility man Chase d’Arnaud missed his ninth consecutive game because of sickness. He was knocked out for nearly a week by the flu, then just as he began working out again and prepared to rejoin the Braves, he was diagnosed with bronchitis. Doctors told him to stay away from camp for at least another two days before he’s re-examined.

A day after his impressive outing against the Phillies, the Braves reassigned pitching prospect Sean Newcomb to minor league camp Thursday. The move would have been made regardless of Newcomb’s results Wednesday, when he turned in an encouraging performance, striking out four and allowing just one hit and no walks in two scoreless innings.