ATL All Day
Fansided

Shelby Miller: The Atlanta Braves 2015 All-Star

By John Buhler

facebooktwitterreddit

Shelby Miller has had a very strong first half for the Atlanta Braves.  Though he only has five wins on the season for the Braves, his 2.07 ERA and 1.095 WHIP was enough to earn Miller his first All-Star selection.  As of this moment, Shelby Miller is the lone representative for the Atlanta Braves at this year’s Mid-Summer Classic, which is being held at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.

-= Related: Atlanta Braves Bullpen Falters, Lose to Phillies in Extras 4-0 =-

It’s no secret that Miller has had minimal run support from his offense in his starts.  Shelby Miller still has not won a game for the Braves since his near no-hit bid in South Beach against the Miami Marlins on May 17th.  But that lack of offensive productivity has not deterred Miller from carrying this Atlanta Braves rotation this season.

Live Feed

MLB Rumors: Braves striking out, Ohtani spurned Giants, Soto-Yankees extension
MLB Rumors: Braves striking out, Ohtani spurned Giants, Soto-Yankees extension /

FanSided

  • The cause and effect of the Braves alluring additions of Kelenic and Fletcher House That Hank Built
  • The 6 best Atlanta Braves who were never recognized as All-StarsHouse That Hank Built
  • Yoshinobu Yamamoto update: Yankees on, Dodgers question, Braves wild cardCall to the Pen
  • World Series Odds: Which Teams Have Value after Shohei Ohtani Signing?Betsided
  • Braves finalize coaching moves after Wash-led exodusFanSided

    • Miller came over to the Atlanta Braves in a trade made by President of Baseball Operations John Hart this winter.  Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins came to the Braves from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for RF Jason Heyward and RHP Jordan Walden.  Though Heyward has had a nice start to his career in the Arch City, Miller has become the ace-caliber pitcher many believed he could become when he was coming up through the Cardinals farm system.

    What I’ve liked the most about Shelby Miller with the Braves this season is that he is not afraid to pound the strike zone with fastballs using his Texas heat.  It’s that confidence to attack the strike zone with conviction as opposed to strictly painting the corners with fastballs in the low-90’s that has earned my respect for Shelby Miller as a Brave.  I have not seen a starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves throw as hard with that kind of accuracy since John Smoltz.

    More from Atlanta Braves

    Then you have to factor in that he has had zero margin for error in his last 9 starts, going winless during that stretch.  The highest his ERA has been this entire season was after a rough start against the Washington Nationals June 3oth at just 2.20.  The mental fortitude required to perform at this level with the certainty of minimal to no run support highlights his maturity and solidifies his status as an ace pitcher.

    Shelby Miller has proven to me that in the first half of the 2015 MLB Season that he can anchor a rotation as its ace.  Braves Country has a lot to look forward to with Miller in its rotation for the next several years.  Now if the bats could just wake up in his starts, Atlanta could essentially have a guaranteed victory every time Shelby Miller takes the mound.

    Next: Atlanta Braves: Contenders Halfway Through Season?

    More from ATL All Day

    Home/Atlanta Braves