A look ahead to the Atlanta Braves’ 2018 Opening Day roster

Starting Pitchers

There is a ton of speculation around the Atlanta Braves and their plans for a starting rotation in 2018. Many fans want the Braves to trade for an elite starting pitcher this winter. Others have suggested the Braves taking their pick from a very limited free agent class.

But why?

The Braves have centralized their rebuilding process around pitching. Adding another arm to the already inevitable logjam of pitching wouldn’t make very much sense, especially with big names like Mike Soroka and Kolby Allard expected to debut sometime next year.

Here’s my starting rotation to open the 2018 season. Keep in mind that, much like 2017, the rotation may not stay this way over the course of the season:

1. Julio Teheran

Unless the return is absolutely irresistible, Julio Teheran isn’t being traded, and I don’t think anyone is making an irresistible offer for the young righty, as his value is the lowest it’s ever been.

Julio’s numbers this year aren’t that much worse than they were in 2015, and he bounced back from that season with an All-Star nomination in 2016.

The Braves are going to need an experienced starting pitcher to lead their young rotation in 2018, and Julio Teheran is, without a doubt, their guy.

2. Mike Foltynewicz

Mike Foltynewicz has struggled at times this year with command and composure, but he’s 25 years-old. He still has plenty of time to grow as a starter, and I’m confident he’ll play closer to his ceiling in 2018 than he ever has before. There were times this year where many thought Folty could be the Braves’ future ace, but I think he’s ultimately a number 2 or 3 starter with an electric fastball, and off-speed stuff that’s getting better with every outing.

3. Sean Newcomb

The Braves’ rotation has an opportunity to be lefty-heavy in 2018, and it all starts with Sean Newcomb.

Newk has one of the best curveballs I’ve seen from a guy under 25, and he’s been working on developing his change-up. It’s crucial to have a third reliable pitch at the Major League level, and if Newcomb can implement his change-up wisely and improve his arm-side control, he’s going to shine in the big leagues.

4. Max Fried

The Braves are sending Max Fried to the Arizona Fall League for fine-tuning. Fried’s numbers in the minor leagues saw a significant drop-off from 2016 to 2017, but he’s still shown that he can be dominant with his stuff.

Even with a 5.54 ERA between Mississippi and Gwinnett, Fried was striking out just a hair under a batter per inning, while struggling to keep the walks to a minimum. Fried certainly still has the talent the Padres saw in him when they took him 7th overall in the 2012 draft, and the extra work this fall will hopefully have him ready for his first full season as an MLB starter.

5. Luiz Gohara

Luiz Gohara has only made one MLB appearance so far, but his rapid progression through the minor leagues along with a cumulative 2.62 ERA spanning across three levels are signs that he’s ready to take on a starting role in the big leagues.

Gohara got battered by a hot Rangers team in his first MLB start, but it’s no indication of what he’s capable of when he’s in his zone. He just turned 21 in July, and with a solid Spring Training performance to go along with the work he gets this September, he’ll lock himself in as the Atlanta Braves’ fifth starter.