Long time from the Glory Days
In Major League Baseball, you are not able to win if you not able to hit, but you also are not able to win if you are not able to pitch. A strong pitching staff propels teams for deep October postseason runs when the air is cool and the leaves are turning colors.
If a team’s pitching lets them down, that October run in the cool air will be waiting until next year. That is exactly what one factor has been this year for the Atlanta Braves. Weak pitching that just has not seemed to hit the right spot and connect at any time during the season. The Braves’ pitching is a far cry from the days of John Smoltz, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, but is it really that bad, or have the Braves just come across some bad luck at in opportune times?
More from Braves News
- Braves News: Braves acquire Diaz, moves around the division, more
- Atlanta Braves 2012 Top Prospects Review: J.R. Graham
- Atlanta Braves Acquire Lewin Diaz from the Orioles
- Atlanta Braves 2023 Preseason Top 30 Prospects List: 6-10
- Braves News: Giving the bullpen some love, Trevor Bauer reinstated, more
Numbers Do Not Lie
The Braves have used twenty-five pitchers this year, yes, twenty-five. Twenty-five is the amount of players on an active roster during the regular season – such a large amount.
Of those twenty-five pitchers, those that have pitched in more than ten games for the Braves, only four have winning records – closer Jim Johnson, relief pitcher Sam Freeman, Luke Jackson and Jason Motte. Not one main starting pitcher has a winning record.
Now to win games, you have to limit the opponent to not scoring runs and that means that you have to have a low ERA as a staff. The Braves team ERA – 4.78 – ranks thirteenth best out of fifteen National League teams. That’s definitely something that has to be worked on, lowering the team ERA.
A pitching staff also needs to limit the long ball. This year, the Braves have not, giving up 175 home runs, ranking eleventh in the National League. Another shocking stat, the Braves do not have a shutout and do not have a pitcher who has pitched a complete game in 2017.
Next: One Start for Fried...A Glimpse of Potential?
Now that we have seen how the Braves pitching is toward the bottom of the National League, it is a little easier to see how the Braves are sixteen games under .500 in 2017 and will not be feeling the cool, crisp October air of the postseason.