The Braves have a number of concerns due to an onslaught of injuries that have plagued them this season, but rotation depth certainly is not one of them.
Reynaldo Lopez returned from the IL earlier this week and tossed a gem against the Phillies, setting a career-high for strikeouts with 10. His velocity was up after several weeks off, and the secondary stuff was as sharp as it has ever been. Max Fried then followed it up with his best start since coming back from the IL on Wednesday, tossing seven innings of two-run ball.
Those two returning to form gives the Braves as strong as any 1-4 in baseball, and the depth behind them is incredibly encouraging. Charlie Morton hasn’t had his best year, and it’s looking like Father Time is finally catching up to him, but you’d be hard-pressed to find many better fifth starters, especially from an experience perspective.
Grant Holmes has been a revelation with the Braves in his first taste of major-league baseball, and on the farm, the Braves have two guys that can be ready at a moment’s notice.
Ian Anderson is coming off his best start in Gwinnett since returning from Tommy John surgery, as he went six innings of scoreless ball with seven strikeouts on August 15th, and last night, AJ Smith-Shawver was just as dominant for the Stripers. He also went six innings without giving up a run with seven strikeouts and was hitting 98 on the radar gun in his final frame.
I’m not sure what kind of role Ian Anderson or AJ Smith-Shawver might end up playing for the Braves this year, if any. The rotation doesn’t have any holes, but if injury arises, they are ready. And even if one doesn’t, perhaps there is still a way for them to contribute to the major-league club. Anderson’s postseason experience is certainly enticing, as is AJ Smith-Shawver’s repertoire.
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Photo: Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
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