ATL All Day
Fansided

Braves Changes Must Be Made After Series Loss To Pirates

By Deke Lloyd

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 10: Pitcher Kevin Gausman #45 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at SunTrust Park on August 10, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 10: Pitcher Kevin Gausman #45 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the first inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at SunTrust Park on August 10, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Braves squander away an opportunity to put pressure on the Phillies by losing 2 out of 3 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team that hasn’t been good this season. Is it time for changes to be made with this Braves roster?

Everything started great, on Tuesday, in the opener of the series when the Braves opened the offensive floodgates late in the game to beat the Pirates 12-5. Josh Donaldson and Austin Riley both went deep to lead the Braves to a victory despite an uncharacteristically shaky start from Max Fried. The Braves will find themselves in deep trouble for the rest of the season if Max Fried, a guy who has been solid for the Braves all season, starts to have trouble getting players out.

Kevin Gausman has become a glaring issue for this Braves roster. In his last start, Gausman got hit for 8 runs by the Washington Nationals. In his next start, the second game with Pittsburgh was not much better for Gausman. In 5 innings, Gausman got hit for 7 runs against the Pirates. It was another dreadful start for the pitcher, who has given up 15 earned runs in his last two starts, ballooning his ERA to over 6.

Mike Foltynewicz, the other beleaguered starter on the staff, had a better start but only slightly. Today, in the series closer and rubber game, Folty gave up 3 runs in 6 innings. A start, like today, is the right path for Folty, but the pitcher Braves fans knew last season has yet to resurface this season. Folty, with today’s start, got his ERA back under 6. That’s a good thing but not good enough for a pitcher who was projected to be your number one starter.

The Braves have an issue on their hands if Gausman, who looks like a lost cause, and Folty can’t get back on track. Folty has the stuff and has the track record to believe in him throughout the rest of the season. Gausman, as of now, has two pitches in his arsenal and he can’t get guys out. It doesn’t seem wise to trot Gausman out for another start, but the Braves are light on options. Touki Toussaint and Sean Newcomb are in the bullpen, but the Braves are so thin in the bullpen, they need them to stay where they are. Kyle Wright or Bryse Wilson could be called up for a spot start, but that’s not a long term solution for this Braves rotation. The Braves will have to figure something out, and soon, or this team will not be able to keep pace with the Phillies in this title race.

Another big issue, for the Braves, is the arms that are carrying them. Mike Soroka and Max Fried have been the linchpins of this Braves rotation in the first part of the season. But does that mean both pitchers will be able to hold up over the long summer and playoff push? Fried has already pitched 66 innings this season, which is twice the amount he pitched last season for the Braves, and it’s only May. Soroka, coming off a shoulder injury, got a later start to the season. But can the Braves count on Soroka and his shoulder to hold up through the entire season? It’s unknown at this point. The Braves will have to make changes to this rotation as soon as possible if Folty and Gausman don’t get it together. Whether that’s a trade or promotion, we don’t know yet. A change is coming eventually. Let’s just hope the Braves make it in time.

Home/Atlanta Braves