Atlanta Braves Fifth Starter: Top Contenders

Feb 23, 2015; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher

catches a batted ball during spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Eric Stults – LHP

Eric Stults killed it in that movie, Mask! What a performance!

All joking aside, Eric is certainly in the running for the fifth spot, but my gut tells me there’s little chance of him getting the nod.

Atlanta Braves’ manager Fredi Gonzalez has never been shy (or was that Frank Wren?) about acquiring aging pitchers on their last legs, and frankly having a surprising bit of success doing it. I’m not sure Stults is a Freddy Garcia, Aaron Harang or a Paul Maholm.  

Stults is one of those aging veterans at 35 years young. An 8 year veteran in fact, Stults has had few impressive years as a pro, and his most recent efforts have been less than stellar.

Outrighted by the San Diego Padres and signed to a minor league contract by the Braves, Stults is at least getting another chance, and he’s healthy by all reports, despite having pitched a ton the last two seasons.

Eric has thrown an average of almost 190 innings over the last two seasons, but even in the friendly pitcher confines of Petco Park, Eric went 11-13 with a 3.93 ERA in 2013, and 8-17 with a 4.30 ERA last season.

New confines and a a new opportunity to perform sometimes bring out the best in pitchers, but he’d have to really perform above a low ceiling in my opinion to get the nod.

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