RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Braves' Walt Weiss makes brutal starting pitching announcement that won't make fans happy originally appeared on The Sporting News .
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The Atlanta Braves are atop the NL East, where they have been for more than half of the season. However, the pitching staff, whether it is the starting rotation or bullpen, has not been a dependable area for Atlanta this season.
The Braves needed another starter at the trade deadline, but it did not work out that way. Now, the rotation has a major question mark when it comes to its dependability.
“There are well-documented reasons why the Braves were in the market for a frontline starter at the Trade Deadline. Though they added a depth piece in Tyler Mahle, they didn't land the type of clear difference-maker that many fans wanted. As the team heads down the stretch, there’s now even more scrutiny on a few things: the lack of a potent 1-2 punch for the postseason, their bullpen's durability and the rotation's overall dependability,” MLB.com’s Jason Foster wrote.
Atlanta starter Grant Holmes took the mound on Saturday, but his outing did not go well.
“Holmes entered Saturday having constructed a scoreless six-inning effort in both of his two previous August starts. He had also produced a 2.45 ERA in his past seven starts going back to July 3. So, he deserves some leeway, right? One bad start shouldn’t remove him from the rotation, right? Well, the chatter certainly wouldn’t be as loud if there wasn’t anticipation about when Smith-Shawver might arrive and how he might fit,” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman wrote.
While it is fair to believe Holmes should remain a starter, he has often been limited to four innings and, at times, five. That could make him an intriguing option as a middle reliever. Braves manager Walt Weiss, however, does not appear to be considering that move.
“Weiss said he expects Holmes to stay in the rotation. When asked if Smith-Shawver could come up as a reliever, it acknowledged it as an option, but said that really hasn’t been discussed. If the bullpen is taxed again tomorrow, there will certainly be a need for help in the pen,” Bowman posted.
Many fans have an issue with Holmes remaining in the rotation while potentially sending Smith-Shawver to the bullpen. It does not make much sense for Atlanta, especially considering Smith-Shawver has spent the last month preparing to return as a starter.
Moving Holmes to the bullpen would not necessarily be a bad idea. He could give Atlanta three or four solid innings in a relief role. When a pitcher is a starter, the goal is generally to reach at least five innings, but Holmes has struggled to consistently get there, even during his recent stretch of success. He has also dealt with a high walk rate.
Smith-Shawver, meanwhile, has been a starter throughout his career and appears better suited for that role. He also possesses a blazing fastball that could be a major weapon in the rotation. Most importantly, he would provide a fresh arm for a Braves team that desperately needs more reliable innings down the stretch.
Putting Smith-Shawver in the bullpen instead of giving him an opportunity to start is unlikely to make many Braves fans happy.
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