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Atlanta Braves DL Aaron Blair – Weber To Start Monday

By Fred Owens

Apr 24, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Aaron Blair pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Aaron Blair pitches against the New York Mets during the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 31, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Matt Wisler (37) reacts in the dugout after being removed in the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Matt Wisler (37) will miss at least one start with sore a muscle in his side . Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

Wisler Still Hurting

In another tweet this afternoon Kevin McCalpin reported that Matt Wisler is still not 100%

Ryan Weber will get Wisler’s start on Monday according to this tweet from David O’Brien.

Weber seems an odd choice. He’s been used only in relief for Atlanta this year throwing 22 1/3 innings over 12 appearances with a 5.24 ERA, 1.612 WHIP , striking out 13, walking two and giving up three home runs.

He appeared in 26 games for Gwinnett as well but started only five and never went more than five innings. Specifically, those five starts totaled just 19 2/3 innings with a 3.20 ERA.  Obviously Brian Snitker is planning this as a Johnny WholeStaff game. The question is, a starting pitcher – Jed Bradley sitting in the bullpen twiddling his thumbs.  That makes sense . . .  or not.

If you’re okay with a bullpen game, why not start a starter on full rest and let the relief pitcher do what they do; pitch in relief?

That’s A Wrap

Sending Blair to the DL allows the Braves to work with him without going a man short in the bullpen so it’s not really a surprise; starting Weber is.

What would make sense in having a look at Bradley on the big stage. At pearl Mississippi he threw 60 1/3 innings over 11 starts posting a 2.09 ERA, striking out 65 and walking 21. He moved to Gwinnett and made three starts posting a 1.50 ERA 1.389 WHIP striking out 19 and walking 11 in 18 innings.

The 6’3”, 225 pound lefty – scouts compared his physique to that of Andy Pettitte  – appears to be thriving as a starter and at 26 years old should be ready to hit his prime. If he starts and runs into trouble. . .a bullpen game is the plan now so there’s no difference.

Next: Tebow Time??

Well, there is one difference. With all due respect to Weber he’s a journeyman reliever who will never be a starter. We know what he can do. Instead we could have a pitcher who projects as a middle of the rotation arm – a lefty as well – get a feel for how he would do.

I hope Weber does well, but it sure would have been nice to see what Bradley get the start. It would be nice as well to have solid lefty in the rotation again.

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