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Williams Perez: Rebounding Well in September After Rough Stretch

By Jonathan Savitske

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Atlanta Braves Williams Perez had an excellent start to his rookie season with the Atlanta Braves during his first 8 starts in the majors.

Through his first 5 starts in with the Atlanta Braves, Williams Perez had a 2.88 ERA to go along with a 3-1 record. Then during his 8th start of the season, Perez suffered an ankle injury against the Pittsburgh Pirates, putting him on the Disabled List for over a month.

-= Related: Tyrell Jenkins: Part of Braves Rotation in 2016? =-

Following his return from the DL at the end of July, Williams Perez clearly was not himself. In 5 starts in the month of August, Williams Perez notched an unsightly 8.44 ERA and an 0-4 record, leading to a demotion late in the month.

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After his brief stint on the DL though, Williams Perez seems to have regained his confidence and form that he had earlier this season. This month, Perez has a 3.80 ERA in 4 starts in 23.2 innings pitched.

Friday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies demonstrated the return to form for Williams Perez, as the rookie went 5.2 innings and only allowed 1 run. In his last start against the Phillies on September 7th, Perez went 7 innings and only allowed 2 earned runs to help the Atlanta Braves snap their season long 12 game losing streak.

So what does it mean for Williams Perez now that he has seemingly rectified his struggles from July and August? With Mike Foltynewicz unlikely to return for the rest of the season, Perez will have 2-3 more starts over the course of the next two weeks to show Fredi Gonzalez and the Atlanta Braves’ front-office that he has in fact righted ship, and should be in the conversation for a spot in the Braves’ 2016 starting rotation. 

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With top prospect Tyrell Jenkins projected to enter the majors next season, and lefties Manny Banuelos and Max Fried returning from injury, Williams Perez’s margin for error will begin to get smaller and smaller. In order to show that he should have a place in the rotation next year alongside the likes of Julio Teheran, Shelby Miller, Matt Wisler and Mike Foltynewicz, Williams Perez must impress over the final two weeks of the season and have a great spring training.

The story of Williams Perez is one that Braves fans can root for, as the rookie is not a part of the heralded corps of pitching prospects John Hart has acquired over the past year as the head of the Braves front-office. Though Perez struggled for over a month, he is showing that he has the potential to be a part of the Braves future plans. 

Next: Atlanta Braves Take Opener Over Phillies, 2-1

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