Kyle Wright's return helps, but the Braves will need to score more runs here soon
By Fred Owens
The Atlanta Braves activated Kyle Wright to bolster a struggling rotation, but a pitcher can’t win without runs, and the lineup hasn’t provided many of those lately.
The Braves rotation came into camp looking for a fifth starter and started the season looking for a fourth and fifth starter. Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd were given the first shot but found Major League hitters harder to navigate.
Bryce Elder returned and made two successful starts to ease the pain and earned a longer look, and Wright’s return gives the team a much-needed boost. He’ll start tonight’s game against the Reds 367 days after allowing two hits without a run and striking out six Reds in six+ innings.
Atlanta Braves Injury Updates – Pitcher version.
We learned during Sunday’s game that Max Fried wasn’t throwing yet, so his return is at least two weeks away.
Late this morning, Mark Bowman updated earlier reports on Mike Soroka’s first Minor League outing and slipped in some not-unexpected but still disappointing news on Ian Anderson.
The specter of UCL surgery looked large once we heard Anderson was on the IL for elbow issues. While not confirming it. Bowman’s Tweet strongly implies he’s headed that direction.
Jeff Passan later tweeted that his sources said Anderson would have surgery. Passan indicated Anderson would return in 2024, but today teams – including the Atlanta Braves - are allowing pitchers the full 18 months doctors always suggested for a complete recovery.
On the upside, Michael Soroka threw 3 2/3 innings last week against the Orioles AAA team in Norfolk, allowing one run on four hits and striking out four of the 14 batters faced without a walk.
He was on the bump earlier today, throwing four innings against Memphis allowing one run on three hits striking out five, and walking two. He also came off the mound to field a soft grounder and threw the runner out.
Soroka threw 69 pitches today, so I’d expect at least two more starts before he joins the Braves.