This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat e-newsletter. To learn the total e-newsletter, click on right here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.
DENVER — Bear in mind the numerous instances I wrote that the Braves shouldn’t cease giving their starters additional relaxation simply to chase a seventh straight Nationwide League East title? Properly, that was earlier than there was concern about this staff even reaching the postseason.
However now that the postseason is way from a certainty, Atlanta is able to take away the harnesses.
“It’s sort of go time with all of that,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned. “There’s no extra additional days and all of that, except we work it in with off-days.”
Every of the beginning pitchers — Sale, Charlie Morton, Grant Holmes and Fried — for this week’s sequence in San Francisco will probably be pitching on common relaxation. Sale, Fried and López have every made a team-high two begins with common relaxation.
So, ought to we now check with common relaxation as irregular relaxation?
Anyway, the Braves must be lauded for a way they’ve dealt with their starters this yr.
Sale totaled 151 innings over the previous 4 seasons mixed. This yr, he has distanced himself from the damage bug and develop into a NL Cy Younger Award favourite.
López didn’t pitch greater than 65 innings in both of the previous two years and Spencer Schwellenbach is experiencing his first unrestricted season as a starter since his 2018 high-school season. The 40-year-old Morton has additionally stayed wholesome all yr.
However this can be a good time to hit the gasoline. The Braves have misplaced 14 of their previous 21 video games, together with seven of their previous eight. It’s time to indicate a way of urgency.
If the Braves stick to this plan to maintain their starters on common relaxation over the rest of the season, Sale might make 10 extra begins. That could be two extra outings than he would have made whereas persevering with to pitch with additional relaxation. And given the place the staff is within the tight Nationwide League Wild Card standings, these two video games may very well be the distinction.
López ought to make a rehab begin within the Braves’ Minor League system this week. He may very well be accessible to be activated to begin one among subsequent weekend’s video games in opposition to the Angels. Or he would possibly line as much as pitch in the course of the Phillies sequence (Aug. 20-22). Both manner, Atlanta ought to profit from his return.
Sale, Fried and López represented the Braves on the All-Star Sport. However all three haven’t been within the rotation on the similar time for the reason that All-Star break. The idea is that Holmes will transfer to the bullpen when López returns.
Who could be the odd man out to create a roster spot for López? Luke Jackson turned a first-rate candidate when he and Joe Jiménez mixed to blow a six-run eighth-inning lead throughout Sunday’s 9-8 loss to the Rockies at Coors Discipline. Jackson has allowed six runs on 10 hits and 4 walks over 5 2/3 innings since being acquired from the Giants within the July 30 deal that additionally introduced Jorge Soler to Atlanta.
The Braves might deliver middle fielder Michael Harris II again from the injured listing as early as Wednesday. Harris has gone 10-for-23 (.435) with a homer by means of his first six rehab video games with Triple-A Gwinnett. He has performed two video games within the outfield and served because the DH within the different 4 video games.
There additionally now appears to be some hope Ozzie Albies might return in the course of the first half of September.
The Braves (61-56) misplaced Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider inside the season’s first two months. They’ve been beneath common for the reason that finish of April. They’ve struggled for the reason that All-Star break, now holding onto the ultimate NL Wild Card spot by a half-game margin over the Mets (61-57). However even after Sunday’s ugly loss, there’s nonetheless seemingly purpose to imagine this staff might lastly get sizzling on the proper time.
