It is not unprecedented to rest your top arms when the opportunity presents itself in Major League Baseball. Getting your best horses to October is a league-wide phenomenon, as time and time again we see how power pitching can fuel a postseason run. The Atlanta Braves have long adopted that philosophy, with both veteran arms and rising young prospects.
Normally, it's understood that the big picture outweighs the short-term benefit of pitching your best arms. However, the recent run of poor results for the Braves highlights why this philosophy requires the right roster to implement this game plan successfully.
Dylan Lee ranks second among all MLB pitchers in Weighted On-Base Average (.183) and Expected Weighted OBA (.213). Mason Miller leads in both categories (.167 and .170). Lee also ranks fourth w/ a 0.99 ERA, trailing Robert Suarez (0.56), Miller (0.79) and Louis Varland (0.82).…
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) June 27, 2026
Braves simply do not have the starting pitching or bullpen depth necessary to limit the innings of their best relievers like this
Atlanta's recent skid has a few culprits, but the starting pitching (or lack thereof) has been a major sticking point. Entering Saturday, Braves' starters had a 5.64 ERA in June and pitched the sixth-fewest innings of any team in baseball. Meanwhile, the strength of their team (the late-inning bullpen trio of Lee-Suarez-Iglesias) was struggling to find opportunities to pitch in winnable games.
On more than a couple of occasions, Walt Weiss has inexplicably started with one of his best bullpen arms unavailable for a game. This is how we get to Carlos Carrasco pitching in high-leverage spots, ultimately surrendering the lead (and victory), and leaving every Braves fan questioning the entire process.
It's clear the Braves want to avoid taxing their bullpen, but this strategy has already proved ineffective because both Raisel Iglesias and Robert Suarez have spent time on the injured list. If the thought is to limit innings so that your best arms stay healthy, then the Braves are failing.
Additionally, the team refuses to pitch Chris Sale on regular rest. The ace of the Braves' rotation has not pitched on regular rest since April 6. When Sale pitches in the series finale against the Giants on Sunday, it will be just his fourth start of June, and his first start in 10 days. If you're wondering why the Braves rotation is struggling so much, the decision to not pitch far and away your best arm certainly isn't helping.
When Alex Anthopoulos constructed this roster in the offseason, money was spent on the bullpen. Still, a Major League contract was not given to a starting pitcher despite numerous calls from the fanbase. Rotation injuries tested Atlanta's depth quickly, and when regression came in June, the Braves inexplicably shied away from the part of the team they heavily invested in.
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