The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sanchez set to join rotation
Braves look to add him to fifth starter role after solid bullpen outing.
Anibal Sanchez pitched three scoreless innings in his season debut Monday for a Braves bullpen that’s been solid so far, but by Saturday he could join a starting
rotation that’s left a little to be desired.
The Braves have targeted Saturday at Colorado, their eighth game, as the date to roll out their fifth starter. They’ll use four starters through then and could get by with four until Monday without having any go on short rest, if they needed to.
But barring a change they’ll have Sanchez slip into the rotation Saturday for the second game of a three-game series at Colorado, which would provide the rest of the starters an extra day of rest.
Sanchez allowed one hit and three walks with two strikeouts in his three-inning stint Monday against the Nationals. He still would be available to pitch in Friday’s series opener at Colorado in an emergency out of the bullpen, in which case the Braves could bring up someone else to start Saturday or go with Sean Newcomb on regular (four days’) rest.
“These next few days are going to determine (when Sanchez starts),” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I mean, obviously he’s going to need a couple of days (to rest after pitching Monday). So he would be in line on the fifth day to start (Saturday), if we wanted to go that route, if we didn’t need him (in the bullpen Friday).
“Getting there will determine when we put that extra guy in there.”
Snitker said the Saturday starter decision might not be finalized until after Friday’s game because of Sanchez being available to pitch in relief if absolutely necessary Friday.
The Braves’ No. 1 starter Julio Teheran was to face the Nationals on Tuesday night, and Mike Foltynewicz starts this afternoon’s series finale before the team’s day off Thursday.
“Friday may determine what we do the next day,” Snitker said. “But we’ll have everybody in line. And we’ll see what happens the next two days. But like I say, (Sanchez) will (rest) for a couple
of days after the three innings he did.”
While the Braves’ bullpen entered Tuesday with the fifth-lowest opponents’ average (.190) in the majors and the ninth-best ERA (2.55 ERA), the team’s starting rotation didn’t exactly distinguish itself in the first turn through a four-man rotation that will soon become a standard five-man unit with the addition of Sanchez, who’s expected to hold down the fifth spot until rookie lefty Luiz Gohara (sprained ankle) returns from the disabled list in late April.
The starters had a 5.75 ERA before Tuesday that ranked 23rd in the majors, with no Braves starter making it through the sixth inning despite all four totaling 90 or more pitches in his first start.
By contrast, the Nationals were 4-0 entering Tuesday and had the majors’ second-best starters ERA (1.07) and highest average of innings per start (61/3). Ace Max Scherzer will start today’s series finale against the Braves.
Every Washington starter worked at least six innings in his first outing, and Tanner Roark pitched seven innings and allowed one run on four hits in Monday’s 8-1 win against the Braves and Newcomb, who lasted 4 1/3 innings and gave up five hits, six runs (five earned) and four walks with six strikeouts.
Braves starters entered Tuesday ranked 19th in opponents’ batting average (.263) and 22nd in opponents’ OBP (.360) and opponents’ OPS (.873). They were tied for the fifth-most walks (11) and tied
for 13th in strikeouts (21). Only five of the 25 teams that played at least four games through Monday had fewer innings from starters than the Braves (201/3).
Foltynewicz had a teamhigh seven strikeouts with one walk in five innings, while every other Braves starter issued at least three walks, and Teheran had as many walks (three) as strikeouts. Brandon McCarthy gave up two runs in 51/3 innings and was the lone Braves starter who didn’t allow a home run in his season debut.
Snitker was asked for his appraisal of the rotation after one turn apiece.
“I thought McCarthy was really good,” Snitker said. “Julio was really good. Folty. You know, up until yesterday (when) Newk just wasn’t hitting on all cylinders. Kind of command got away from him, didn’t have a real good feel for the breaking ball, as he had all spring. But up until (Monday) it’s been pretty good, I think.”
Newcomb has lasted fewer than six innings in his past eight starts, dating to August. He has a 4.73 ERA in that stretch, with 24 walks in 40 innings and an opponents’ .382 OBP and .884 OPS.
Foltynewicz allowed three runs (two earned) including a pair of bases-empty homers in five innings and got no decision in an 11-inning, 5-4 loss to the Phillies, stretching his winless streak to eight starts. He’s 0-7 with a 7.34 ERA in that span since early August and lasted five innings or fewer in five of those games.