THE SIDELINES : Braves Trade 2 Relief Pitchers

The Atlanta Braves today traded two relief pitchers: Jim Acker to Toronto for reliever Tony Castillo, and Paul Assenmacher to the Chicago Cubs.

The Braves will get another player to be named later from the Blue Jays and two players also to be named later from the Cubs.

Acker, 30, second in the National League with 59 appearances this year, was 0-6 with two saves and a 2.67 earned run average with Atlanta this year.

Castillo, a 26-year-old lefty, began the season with Toronto, was demoted in May and was recalled this month. He has a 1-1 record this year with the Blue Jays, with 1 save and a 6.11 ERA. He had five saves at AAA Syracuse.

Assenmacher, 28 and left-handed, was 1-3 with a 3.59 ERA in 49 appearances with Atlanta this season. He tied a major league record Tuesday night, striking out four batters in one inning--thanks to a wild pitch that allowed one strikeout victim to advance to first.