Atlanta Braves: 5 players entering a make-or-break season in 2020

Sean Newcomb

The 2020 season might not be a make-or-break one in terms of Sean Newcomb remaining with the Braves, but it certainly could be make-or-break for his chances to be a starter.

After a solid 2018 season in which he posted a 3.90 ERA in 164 innings with 160 strikeouts, he struggled mightily out of the gate as a starter in 2019.

Through three starts he had an ERA of 4.38, which isn’t terrible, but the walks continued to be a problem with eight of them in 12.1 innings.

The Braves sent him down to work on his command and brought him back as a reliever where he excelled for Atlanta in 2019.

Honestly, I thought the Braves pulled the plug on him as a starter a little quick last season.

Yes, his command issues were obvious, but we knew that going into the season. And he was only given three starts.

But once he went to the bullpen and looked much better with his command, it made it really hard for them to move him back to a starter role considering the struggles in the team was having in the bullpen.

But Newcomb has made it pretty clear he wants to be a starter and he’ll likely get that chance once again at least to start the 2020 season.

Everyone knows the issue with Newcomb by now — he has to be able to command the fastball.

If he does that, then the lefty has one of the better curveballs in baseball.

Braves fans may never be pleased with Newcomb because of what we gave up for him, but if ever puts it all together over a full season, there is no doubt he has the stuff to be a top of the rotation pitcher.

However, if we don’t see that in 2020 and he continues to struggle with his command, his future is most likely in the bullpen or with another team.