As fallout continues from the Atlanta Braves trade deadline decisions, it is fair to look at the current rotation and wonder how things will shake out. Among the pieces that appeared to be on the bubble ahead of this year's deadline was left-hander Martin Perez. Production from the starter had faded, leaving room to wonder if a demotion to the bullpen or perhaps being designated for assignment was on the horizon. This changed over the weekend when Perez had the best start of his Atlanta tenure taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning.
Perez completed 7.0 innings, giving up only a lone hit while throwing 78 pitches to get the job done. It was the absolute best version of the aging pitcher and a moment that Perez needed to solidify his roster spot and make sure that whatever the rotation looks like moving forward, the southpaw is going to continue to get chances.
The overall production has far surpassed reasonable expectations, with Perez offering 97.1 innings thus far with an ERA of 3.24. It seems the Braves have found an option to fill the void left by Charlie Morton's retirement, an aging pitcher able to hold the last rotation spot and give your offense a chance seemingly each time he takes the mound.
Martin Perez Solidifies Braves Standing After Impressive Weekend Outing
The only knock against Perez was the fact that he wasn't able to get past the fifth inning, with lineups catching up to a lack of velocity the second or third time through the order. This weekend's outing proved that this capability was still there, going deep into the game against one of the league's better lineups in the Washington Nationals. For the Braves, it should be more than enough to keep Perez locked into a starting role for the time being.
It is important to note that this can change based both on performance of minor league options and whether or not Perez can continue his current pace over the last two months of the season. Still, there is no denying how impressive and timely the moment was from the Atlanta left-hander.
Perhaps the most interesting decision left for the Braves is how the franchise will manage putting together its postseason roster and whether or not Perez has any hope of joining this group. It is something to consider over the next two months as fans continue to watch a rotation that has been a consistent source of frustration.
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