The Atlanta Braves pitching staff has been their downfall with a team ERA above 4.00 in 2015. What has been a staple for the Braves throughout the years, has become quite a hinderance for us fans this season – and I’m sure the front office as well.
Heading into the 2014 Spring Training season, the Braves looked like they would encounter issues with the pitching staff, but they brought in Aaron Harang and Ervin Santana. These two pitchers stepped up huge and unexpectedly for the Braves.
John Hart and the fellas in the front office thought they’d try their cards again in 2015 with this same approach.
In the 2015 Spring Training, the Braves brought in veterans Eric Stults, Wandy Rodriguez, Chien-Ming Wang, Jason Grilli and Jim Johnson. Stults, Rodriguez and Wang were completing for the fifth starting spot. Stults won the job, Rodriguez was released, and Wang was sent to Gwinnett.
Since than, Stults hasn’t pitched up to par and has given up way to many home runs. Mike Minor had shoulder surgery and will miss 2015. Rodriguez was picked up by the Rangers and is pitching great. Braves called up their #3 ranked prospect Mike Foltynewicz and he’s pitched all right in his limited starts. And both Julio Teheran and Alex Wood haven’t started the season like we all thought they would.
The starting pitching has to improve, period. The next move for Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez may be to move Stults to the pen and bring up Atlanta’s #2 rated prospect Matt Wisler.
The 22-year-old is currently pitching for the Gwinnett Braves and has a 2-3 record with a 4.59 ERA in 2015. Though, in his last two games he has only given up two runs and one walk….he’s also won both those games. He received the International League pitcher of the week with a 1.35 ERA, one walk, nine strikeouts and two wins.
Eventually Wisler or Banuelos, maybe Wisler having edge because monitoring Banuelos innings https://t.co/Q1fQeID6uo
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) May 14, 2015
The Braves traded Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton to the San Diego Padres to acquire Wisler, Cameron Maybin, Jordan Paroubeck, and the 41st pick in the 2015 draft – and Carlos Quentin, but he was quickly released.
I had the chance to watch Wisler in person and I took some videos of him warming up in the bullpen prior to taking the mound. Take a look and watch his mechanics.
Matt Wisler from Jeff Schafer on Vimeo.