The Braves activated Smith from the COVID-19 injured list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Scott Schebler was designated for assignment to clear room for Smith on the 40- and 28-man rosters. The Braves weren't expected to activate Smith from the injured list until the weekend, but he was brought back a day early with Atlanta needing to trim down its active roster from 30 men. When he signed a three-year, $39 million deal with the Braves in the offseason, Smith was viewed as a potential candidate to close, but he'll most likely have to settle for a setup role in front of Mark Melancon after missing most of summer camp following a positive COVID-19 test. Smith was one of baseball's most dominant end gamers in 2019 with the Giants, posting a 2.76 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 96 strikeouts over 65.1 innings while converting 34 of 38 save chances.

Smith (illness) threw live batting practice Monday and is scheduled to throw a simulated game Wednesday, putting him on track to join the Atlanta bullpen this weekend, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

"Everything went well," Braves manager Brian Snitker said after Monday's session. "He threw the ball really well. It was good to get him out there. I think he threw 25 pitches. He was turning it loose. We got done what we needed to." While the team's rotation is in tatters, the bullpen at least appears close to getting back to full strength. Smith should slot immediately into a high-leverage role once he comes off the injured list.

Smith (illness) threw another bullpen session Friday and will toss a live batting practice session and participate in a simulated game soon, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith is building up his arm strength after missing the entirety of summer camp due to a positive coronavirus test. Smith's target return date is not yet clear, though O'Brien speculates that it could come within a week.

Smith (illness) threw off a mound Thursday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith has been progressing nicely in his return to throwing after battling COVID-19, and manager Brian Snitker said Thursday that his first mound work went very well. An official timetable for the southpaw's return hasn't been set, but he could be added to the active roster by next week if all goes well. He should slot into a high-leverage role out of the bullpen after Atlanta's bullpen has struggled to begin the season.

Smith (illness) could be added to the active roster by next week, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The southpaw reliever has so far only been able to play catch, but Atlanta expects that he'll be cleared for mound work very soon. Smith was quarantined with COVID-19 for most of July and was only able to join the team's camp Sunday. Atlanta's bullpen has struggled out of the gate with both Smith and Mark Melancon (back) yet to make their 2020 debuts.

Smith (illness) cleared the league's COVID-19 protocols and can rejoin the team, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran southpaw threw a side session back in Atlanta on Sunday and figures to require some time before reaching game readiness after missing summer camp with COVID-19. Manager Brian Snitker hopes Smith will be able to join the Braves on their next road trip, which begins Aug. 7, though an earlier return remains possible.

The Braves placed Smith (illness) on the 10-day injured list Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Atlanta made the transaction shortly after the team revealed that Smith was one of four Braves to test positive for COVID-19. Among the four players, Smith and pitcher Touki Toussaint were revealed to be asymptomatic as of Saturday, so both could be cleared to rejoin the team in a matter of days if they can quickly procure two negative results in their subsequent tests. If Smith's absence proves to be a brief one, he should be ready to go for Opening Day and remain in the mix to close games for the Braves.

Manager Brian Snitker said Saturday that Smith tested positive for COVID-19, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith tested positive for COVID-19 along with three of his teammates. While Smith is reportedly asymptomatic, he'll still have to clear the league protocol before he's able to rejoin the team.

Smith posted a 1.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 6:3 K:BB through 5.1 innings before spring training was suspended.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran left-hander is set to fill a high-leverage role for Atlanta this season after putting together back-to-back excellent campaigns for San Francisco in 2018-19. Mark Melancon will get first crack at the ninth inning, but Smith should still get occasional save chances against lefty-heavy lineups, and he would likely be the next man up at closer if Melancon falters.

Smith will primarily work in a high-leverage setup role for Altanta, but manager Brian Snitker said he wouldn't hesitate to use the 30-year-old to close, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mark Melancon is considered the team's primary ninth-inning option right now, and the new rule requiring a pitcher to face at least three batters would seem to prevent Snitker from using the southpaw Smith to face only one or two tough left-handed hitters to close out the ninth. Nonetheless, Smith had the better overall season of the two in 2019, and if Melancon falters, the free-agent signee will be next in line for closing duties.