Three Atlanta Braves players that need to step up
By Josh Mathews
Julio Teheran
Some may consider it unreasonable to tell Julio Teheran that I’m going to need him to perform above his career averages when he’s on the verge of completing his ninth season in the show. However, while Teheran has had a good run with two All-Star bids, we as fans need to see something more like real consistency from the longest tenured Atlanta Braves player.
Teheran, especially over the past few years has developed a real issue with walks. Now, it doesn’t get to him every time, but after walking 51 or fewer hitters in three of his first four seasons, he hasn’t walked less than 72 batters, including 84 walks in 2018 and 62 so far in 2019, putting him on pace to set a rather dubious career high.
Looking at his 2019 starts, Teheran has either been very good, or bordering on/dipping into being completely miserable.
It’s not just the walks, it’s the fact that his command seems to inexplicably leave him at times. Poor command has caused him to allow four or more runs in five starts, including a three start stretch where he gave up 15 earned runs over 11.1 innings from June 18-29.
That simply won’t cut it in the postseason, and you’d have to wonder if he’d get a start- especially if Mike Foltynewicz returns to form, or Max Fried has been pitching particularly well at the time.
Simply put, the Atlanta Braves need Teheran to challenge his 2014 or 2016 All-Star form. And maybe not even that- how about consistently putting together starts similar to the ones in 2019 where he’s put the Atlanta Braves in an excellent position to win the game, bullpen be damned.