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Atlanta Braves: Time to Let Veteran Pitching Go

By Kit Anderson

May 9, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Bartolo Colon (40) reacts after Houston Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran (15) (not pictured) hit a home run in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Bartolo Colon (40) reacts after Houston Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran (15) (not pictured) hit a home run in the first inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Atlanta Braves are struggling badly right now unable to win games and giving up a lot of runs. It may be time to consider moving on from some of the Braves veteran pitching and focus on giving some of the young arms a chance.

Moving on from veteran pitchers that the Atlanta Braves spent so much to add may seem like an odd move but it is the right one if the struggles continue over the next couple of weeks. Adding veteran talent to the rotation had one goal that was to make the team more watchable and competitive.

That goal has failed and if it continues to fail should be forgotten all-together in favor of giving younger arms with higher upside a chance to prove themselves. While their top pitching prospects may not be ready there are plenty of arms waiting in the farm system that the Braves should give opportunity to prove themselves in favor of watching struggling veterans even if one of them is Bartolo Colon.

Lucas Sims and Sean Newcomb are two names that are especially interesting in the Braves triple-A affiliate and have gotten off to nice respective starts. Newcomb at first was one of the Braves top rated prospects and has remained well rated but gotten a bit derailed by his inability to not limit walks. His 2.97 ERA in six starts is encouraging enough though to earn him a look with the Braves soon to see if he is capable of being the ace many scouts believe him to be.

Lucas Sims is a name that Braves fans should be well familiar with he has been in the Braves system for a number of years now though he is still only 23 years old. Sims has some mechanical issues that have derailed his progress at times but early on in the year he seems to have put those issues behind him to the tune of a 2.57 ERA in six starts.

Next: Braves Previewing the lineup

If both players continue their hot starts it is only a matter of time before we see one or both of Sims and Newcomb. The sooner the Braves opt to look at their future in favor of struggling veterans the better they will be in the 2018 season.

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