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Who makes the Atlanta Braves postseason roster?

By Matthew Browning

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 13: Austin Riley #27 reacts to a sacrifice fly that scored Josh Donaldson #20 of the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning of a game against the San Diego Padresat PETCO Park on July 13, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 13: Austin Riley #27 reacts to a sacrifice fly that scored Josh Donaldson #20 of the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning of a game against the San Diego Padresat PETCO Park on July 13, 2019 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 12: Julio  Teheran #49 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 12, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 12: Julio  Teheran #49 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 12, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

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Pitchers

The starting rotation is mostly set going into the playoffs with Dallas Keuchel, Mike Soroka and Max Fried likely getting the first three starts in the NLDS.

Julio Teheran and Mike Foltynewicz will both be on the postseason roster, but it remains to be seen in what capacity. Performance and past history versus opponents will play the biggest factors in who will get the Game 4 start.

Teheran allowed five earned runs to the Phillies Thursday night, but in his previous four starts before that he had a 1.08 ERA in 25 innings.

If the playoffs were to begin today, the Atlanta Braves would face the St. Louis Cardinals and Teheran has had pretty good success against the Red Birds, going 3-3 with a 2.66 ERA in eight career starts and 1-1 with a 2.65 ERA in three career starts at Busch Stadium.

Foltynewicz appears to be figuring things out, as he is 2-0 with a 1.91 ERA in his past five starts.

While his stuff fits the bullpen more so than Teheran, Foltynewicz would surely be in the rotation if he continues to show more of the 2018 version of himself.

With that being said, Foltynewicz is 3-4 with a 7.64 ERA in seven career starts against the Cardinals. The strange stat though is that all of Foltynewicz’s struggles against St. Louis have been at home. He is 3-1 with a 3.20 ERA at Busch Stadium.

If the Atlanta Braves choose to go with a six-man bench and that seems likely given the two off days in the series, then the bullpen is pretty close to being set.

Jerry Blevins seems close to a lock as a left-handed specialist in the playoffs, as left-handed opponents are batting only .157 off of him this season.

Darren O’Day has not shown enough in his return from his season-long injury and the need for Josh Tomlin as the long man decreases with either Teheran or Foltynewicz missing out on the rotation.

I would mention Anthony Swarzak but his ERA of five since August 1 pretty much stops that conversation.

When in Rome. dark. Next

Prediction

Rotation: Keuchel, Soroka, Fried, Teheran

Bullpen: Melancon, Greene, Martin, Jackson, Newcomb, Blevins, Foltynewicz

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