Gavin Floyd activated, will start Tuesday in place of Ervin Santana
Feb 16, 2014; Lake Buena Vistas, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher
Gavin Floyd(32) throws during spring training at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Today, the Atlanta Braves activated Gavin Floyd and optioned relief pitcher Ian Thomas to Gwinnett where he will move into a starting role and work on some of his off speed offerings:
#Braves Ian Thomas will go to Gwinnett and move into starting role for now and work on slider.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) May 4, 2014
As for Floyd, it looks like his timing is excellent, as he’ll be needed to fill in for Ervin Santana this Tuesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Santana is battling a sore right thumb:
Gavin Floyd will start Tuesday. Ervin Santana has a sore right thumb. Expected to miss just one start. Likely start on Sat. #Braves
— Kevin McAlpin (@KevinMcAlpin) May 4, 2014
It is unknown at this moment what Floyd’s more permanent role will be going forward, but there is definitely a need for more quality arms within this Braves team. While the starting rotation has been excellent so far, the bullpen has struggled frequently, and it’s possible that Floyd could help improve the unit after filling in for this spot start on Tuesday.
Getting Floyd (and Mike Minor) back seems to have already had a good impact on the bullpen, in one of those “addition by subtraction” ways. Gus Schlosser was optioned to make room for Minor on Friday and Thomas is the odd man out today to make room for Floyd. Both of these guys have struggled in the pen, and whoever moves out of the rotation to take their place is likely a better option for Fredi Gonzalez.