Atlanta Braves: 5 Best Options to Replace Mike Foltynewicz in Starting Rotation

If Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker wanted to go with the opener approach then I think Patrick Weigel is the best option.

This is something Weigle has become very familiar with as they eased him back into things following  Tommy John surgery.

Last season he posted a 2.73 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A with a 1.15 WHIP in 79 innings to go along with 71 strikeouts.

The 6-foot-6 righty throws his fastball in the mid-90s with a slider and curveball being his primary off-speed pitches.

For the most part last season Weigel was going two or three innings, so I certainly think he’ll be comfortable in that role with the Atlanta Braves.

And knowing he’s only expected to go three innings perhaps he goes max effort those few innings and finds some extra life on his fastball which already touches 97 MPH at times.

Weigel was on the verge of breaking through with the Braves in 2017 before his surgery, and he got called up last season but didn’t pitch.

I think it’s very likely they call him up at some point this season to see what he can do.

He’s now another year removed from surgery and should be ready to go. I think he could really thrive in that opener role if that’s how Snitker wants to play it.