Time to rethink the way Atlanta Braves use Max Fried and the bullpen

The plan going forward

The gameplan for how to use our bullpen arms going forward has to change. It may seem a bit drastic to change things after two games, but this is the postseason, you can’t wait for things to work themselves out.

Here is what I think the hope/gameplan should be for Brian Snitker and the Atlanta Braves in the next couple of games.

In game three I think the goal should be to get Mike Soroka through six innings. That’s something he only did in two of his last five starts of the regular season, but I think that was more because of load management than ineffectiveness.

And then you use some sort of combination of Fried, Greene, and Melancon to end it. Again, riding whichever arm is hot.

If Fried comes in and is dominant, you ride him until the end or until he shows signs of slowing down. You have to have a short leash even with these three guys.

If Soroka can’t get you through five, or if he only goes five, I think you play matchups with Sean Newcomb and Darren O’Day to get you to the seventh.

With a lead and an early exit from Soroka, I think you use Max Fried for multiple innings until you can get it to Greene and Melancon.

I guess what I’m trying to say here is, I only trust Freid, Greene, and Melancon out of the bullpen right now. And my faith in Melancon is wavering.

I don’t want to see Luke Jackson, Josh Tomlin, or Teheran in this game unless it’s in mop-up duty.

For game four, I think it’s going to be a bullpen game.

I thought Dallas Keuchel was pulled too soon in game one, but with that early exit and only throwing 74 pitchers, there is a chance he comes back on three days rest for game four.

If it were me, I’d let Keuchel start that game and see if he can get you through the lineup twice — hopefully that means four innings. If the Atlanta Braves are leading at that point, I’d bring in Max Fried and see if he can bridge you to Greene and Melancon.

But if the Braves are losing — and it’s not an elimination game — then, and only then, I’d bring in Julio Teheran to see how much length he can give you.

Point being, there are two or three arms coming out of that bullpen that I trust right now, and Snitker is going to have to ride them the rest of this series. And maybe the biggest part of that will be Max Fried.