There is no question that the biggest issue for the Atlanta Braves going into the postseason is their starting rotation. Here is how they can handle that better.
Certainly, the Atlanta Braves would love to be going into this postseason with a starting rotation that includes Mike Soroka, Max Fried, and Cole Hamels.
If that were the case then I think with the Braves offense there would be a lot of people picking them to win the World Series.
But nothing has gone as planned in 2020, and the Braves will have to find a way to navigate the postseason with the arms they have.
Despite a bit of a scare on Wednesday, it sounds like Max Fried is good to go for game 1 of the Wild Card series, which is great news.
But behind him the Braves will likely have to rely on a couple of rookies in Ian Anderson and Kyle Wright.
Anderson has a good sample size under his belt at his point and has proven he deserves a postseason start. He’s worked into the sixth inning in four of his six big league starts.
And he’s yet to give up more than 3 earned runs in any start.
Now, you do have to wonder how a 22-year-old rookie is going to handle the big moment in the postseason. But with there being no crowds, and the Braves being at home in the first round anyway, hopefully that will help calm the nerves a bit.
As for Wright, he’s improved in each start since returning to the big leagues going at least six innings in his last two starts.
But like with Anderson, you wonder how he’ll do on the big stage with such a small sample size of big league success.
That’s likely the three guys who get starts in the postseason, and that’s certainly who the Braves hope can get them through the Wild Card series.
After that, things get dicey because with no off days they’re likely going to need at least one more starter.
But I also think the Braves will try and do a bullpen game at some point with the elite bullpen they have.
If it were me, I’d have Jacob Webb or A.J. Minter start a game (depending on how lefties or righties the opposing team has atop their lineup) and then bring in either Bryse Wilson, Josh Tomlin, or Huascar Ynoa for two innings.
At that point, depending on how the game is going, you turn it over to your elite relievers to get you through the rest of the game.
Either way, Brian Snitker will likely need to try something like this at some point to get through the postseason. And he’ll need his elite relievers ready to go every day.
Shane Greene, Chris Martin, Mark Melancon, Minter, Darren O’Day, Will Smith and Webb are your most trusted relievers and are capable of getting you through four or five innings every game.
Snitker really just needs Fried, Anderson, and Wright to give him five good innings and then hand it over to the bullpen.
That’s the recipe for the Braves pitching staff going into the postseason, and honestly, it’s one that has been working for them all season.