ATL All Day
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next

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.

4. RP- Josh Collmenter (R)

josh collmenter
Feb 15, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Josh Collmenter (55) throws a pitch as Atlanta Braves catcher David Freitas (72) catches during MLB spring training workouts at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

It won’t take fans long to recognize Josh Collmenter on the mound. His strange delivery is one of the more unique exchanges in baseball. Collmenter also has a number of interesting factoids. Most recently, upon getting traded to Atlanta late in 2016, he became the 16th starter the Braves used that year. That is a record. A Major League Baseball record.

In 2017, however, Atlanta will try to use the former starter in long relief. Collmenter doesn’t overpower hitters (he tops out at around 87 mph), but he throws a lot of junk and when it is working, it can be nasty. Though his career ERA is 3.50, last year he posted a nice 2.37 ERA with the Braves in 19 innings pitched. This spring he’s sporting a 3.27 in 11 innings pitched.

If Collmenter can give the Braves that stretch pitching in long middle relief, it plugs a hole, and allows Snitker more flexibility on the back-end. Collmenter could be a nice asset.

Home/Atlanta Sports