McBride completed his first full season in the majors in 2006, finishing with a 4–1 record and a 3.65 ERA in 71 appearances. He recorded his lone save of the season on May 21, 2006 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. At the start of the 2007 season McBride struggled with his control was consequently optioned to Richmond to work on his control problems. Atlanta recalled McBride in mid-May, and he put together a 1–0 record with a 3.60 ERA before the being traded to the Detroit Tigers on June 20 for pitcher Wilfredo Ledezma. McBride, a native of Georgia, expressed disappointment: "I don't feel anything right now... Growing up watching the Braves, I wanted to be part of a team that wins here. But these guys are pretty good, too." As it happened, the Tigers were coming to town for an interleague series, so McBride simply moved his belongings from the home clubhouse to the visitors' clubhouse.