Braves activate Sheets from disabled list

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Braves activated Ben Sheets from the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, and he will pitch out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. He was on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation for three weeks. Sheets lost his third straight start Aug. 23 at San Francisco, dropping to 4-4 with a 3.54 ERA in eight starts. Sheets has started all 249 regular-season games in his career. He said before the Braves played Washington on Saturday that he has made three relief appearances in the All-Star game. The Braves signed Sheets to a minor league contract July 1. The former Milwaukee ace beat the New York Mets 6-1 on July 15 in his first game since 2010. Sheets has been on the disabled list eight times in his career. He is 94-96 with a 3.78 ERA in 10 seasons.