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Is Zack Wheeler a good fit for the 2020 Atlanta Braves rotation?

By Steven Teal

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 15: Pitcher Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets looks on from the dugout during the seventh inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on September 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 15: Pitcher Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets looks on from the dugout during the seventh inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citi Field on September 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets follows through with a pitch in the first inning of their game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 26, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Zack Wheeler #45 of the New York Mets follows through with a pitch in the first inning of their game against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 26, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

So, just how good has Wheeler been in his short career?

The Dallas, Georgia native carries a career ground ball rate of 46.5 percent and would fit in with a staff that features two other excellent ground ball pitchers (Mike Soroka and Max Fried).

Wheeler’s career ERA sits at 3.77 in 126 games pitched across 5 seasons (Wheeler missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons due to Tommy John surgery).

His worst season came in 2017 after returning from TJ surgery. But the past two seasons saw Wheeler return to form and pitch 180+ innings with an ERA of 3.31 and 3.96 respectively.

The 2019 Atlanta Braves only had two starters reach 170+ innings that being Mike Soroka and Julio Teheran. We definitely need to find someone who can eat innings for us and save the bullpen more often.

Zack Wheeler is one of those guys available with the other being Madison Bumgarner who pitched over 200 innings in 2019. Those are two guys that I think the Braves are able to afford the most.

Especially after considering how much guys like Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg are going to command.

If the Braves feel like they can’t afford the top two free agents, then Wheeler is a great plan C who would easily become the second best starter on the staff going into 2020.

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