Through the season's first three games, the Atlanta Braves' plans for how to handle their rotation have gone off largely without a hitch. Chris Sale was Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez's velocity returned, and Grant Holmes pitched well in a loss. Once you take a step back and see that the Braves won a series when they didn't have to throw Raisel Iglesias at all, and the entire bullpen, other than the recently optioned Didier Fuentes, got a game off on Sunday, that is a clear win. However, the hard part starts now.
Starting on Monday, the Braves take on the Athletics, which, at first glance, is a match-up that should favor Atlanta at home, and it does in most ways. However, with Bryce Elder taking the mound in the first game and, in all likelihood, Jose Suarez or Martin Perez getting the start in the second game, the A's are a match-up that could get spooky in a hurry despite their current winless status.
Despite their rough start, the A's are no joke, especially given who the Braves are throwing in the first two games
While few expect the A's to make the playoffs this year, they are generally seen as a team on the rise. In particular, the A’s lineup really punishes mistakes and hits the ball hard. Between Lawrence Butler, Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and Tyler Soderstrom, there are plenty of guys in the Athletics' lineup that can put the ball over the fence if the Braves are not careful.
In that context, who in their right mind actually feels comfortable with Elder or Suarez on the mound right now? The answer is probably very few. It isn't impossible that they pitch well and, again, the A's have to pitch, too, and the Braves' offense is dangerous. However, the odds that things go horribly awry have definitely gone up.
Unfortunately, there is no going back now. Elder is going to get his shot on Monday, and we are definitely going to see one of Suarez or Perez in the next game. The lineup is just going to have to show up, and it isn't like Jacob Lopez or the ghost of Aaron Civale are inspiring much fear themselves. If that happens, it might not matter what the A's do on offense. At least, that is the hope.