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Five Atlanta Braves Pitchers Who Can Be a Difference Maker

By W. M. Lawson

May 22, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Eric O'Flaherty (34) pitches during the sixth inning of the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won the game 5-0. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Eric O'Flaherty (34) pitches during the sixth inning of the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won the game 5-0. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Braves enter 2017 with expectations of winning. To do that, though, one, or more, of these five pitchers need to have a breakout year.

1. SP-Jaime García (L)

jaime garcia
Mar 12, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jaime Garcia (54) throws a pitch during the first inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Jaime García is with the Braves ball club for the first time this year. García, drafted by the Cardinals in 2005, made his MLB debut in 2008. His career has been one of ups and downs and tumult as a result of injury. The book on García is that, when healthy, he is a dangerous lefty with accuracy and stealth on three pitches.

One of the knocks on this “process” is that it involves a number of pitchers with arm “issues”. The thing with García is that he has the chance to really help Atlanta this year. According to mlb.com, he is 62-45 with a career 3.57 ERA. This spring he’s floated a 3.20 ERA in 19.2 innings.

If García can stay healthy, he has the ability to be a quality “3” in the starting rotation, and could be the difference in the Braves having a winning record, or not. He could be that important.

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