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Atlanta Braves: 3 Adjustments that need to be made to beat the Dodgers

By Andrew Cicco

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after sliding safely into third base during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 08: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after sliding safely into third base during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 01: Max  Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the second inning against the San Diego Padres at SunTrust Park on May 01, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – MAY 01: Max  Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the second inning against the San Diego Padres at SunTrust Park on May 01, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

1. Reinforcements in the Rotation

A lesson as old as the game of baseball itself reigns true after all these years — pitching wins pennants.

If you can’t throw effective strikes, or even get the ball over the plate, you’re simply not going to win games — it’s as simple as that.

Now, I am in no way bashing Atlanta’s talents on the bump; the Atlanta Braves have one of the most talented, promising and potentially elite group of young pitchers in all of baseball.

That word “potential” highlights the need for improvement, though. These guys are DEFINITELY talented and have proven that time and time again, especially during this young season.

Max Fried is cementing his spot in the rotation. Sean Newcomb came back from his demotion with a vengeance. Touki Toussaint has a slider that is essentially unhittable. Kyle Wright proved himself enough in the farm to land a spot in the bullpen.

That’s all fantastic and especially exciting to see in action. But it’s going to take some time before we see any of them become the next Clayton Kershaw or Chris Sale.

One area of concern, especially as of late, has risen in the form of our ace: Mike Foltynewicz. Mark Bowman spells it out in some more detail.

The scales in the battle of the aces were tipped towards Kewshaw’s favor last night, as Folty is still seeing a decline in his fastball and issues with his slider since coming off the IL and starting the season late.

Time will mend the Folty issues; that concern isn’t a great one. What needs to happen, at least in the short-term, is a change in approach to Los Angeles hitters, who are hitting .296 with a .906 OPS against the Braves.

Whether it’s a different mix between fastball and off-speed, different pitches against the dangerous hitters like Justin Turner, or simply just a tweak in motion on the mound, something needs to be adjusted.

The long-term remains external upgrades to the rotation. Atlanta didn’t see any this offseason, but as we’re closing in on the two-month mark from the Trade Deadline, you have to imagine pitching upgrades are on Anthopoulos’s mind.

Any type of boost to the pitching staff would prove fruitful for the Atlanta Braves as they try to repeat their fortunes from 2018.

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