The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wright looks to bring his recent success into Game 3
Adjustments made at Gwinnett paid offff after he returned.
For Braves fans who remember he had an 8.05 ERAin early September, Kyle Wright’s emergence as a key member of the postseason starting pitching rotation may seem abrupt.
The Braves see it more as a realization of what they were looking for all along this season fromthe 25- year- old rookie right- hander, whowill start Game 3 of the National LeagueChampionshipSeries against theLosAngelesDodgers tonight.
“We thought in the offffffffffffseason and even the fifirst spring training that KyleWrighthad a chance to be our 2020 version of Max Fried,” Braves generalmanager AlexAnthopoulos said.
By that, he meant the Braves thought Wright could have the type of breakthrough season in 2020 that the left- handed Fried had when he won 17 games in 2019.
“We were very high on himand excitedabouthim,” Anthopoulos said. “The fifirst spring training ( before it was halted by the coronavirus pandemic in March), he looked like he was on his way.”
When the delayed season fifinally opened in July, Wright was in the Braves’ starting rotation. But he struggled in his first four starts and was demoted to the alternate training site at Gwinnett on Aug. 20.
His struggles contributed to concerns among many observers aboutwhether the Braves had suffifficient starting pitching, aside from No. 1 starter Fried.
“You knowwhat? Imean, they weren’t wrong ( to be concerned),” Wright said. “I feel like Max picked us up in a huge way to really, I guess, in a way buy us some time. He kind of allowed me to get back to who I know I can be.”
During almost threeweeks at the alternate site, Wright made changes: adopting a more aggressive approach against hitters, moving on themound to the fifirst- base side of the rubber and, at the analytics- driven recommendation ofminor league pitching coordinator Paul Davis, using his two- seam fastball more often.
“You don’t want to be down there,” Wright said, “but it was a really good group down there that I feel like I was able to learn a lot from.”
“He did tremendous work,” Anthopoulos said. “I think us leavinghimdown there for three outings to continue to work on things and solidify things helped.”
WrightrejoinedtheBraves’ rotation Sept. 8, but again struggled in a four- inning stint againstMiamithatnight. He allowed fifive runs, inflflatinghisERAfrom7.20to8.05. ( As he put it: “8 ERA isn’t exactlyhowyoudrawitup.”)
Then, something seemed to click.
He pitched six innings or morein eachofhisfifinal three regular- season starts, allowing five runs in 19 innings across those games to lower his ERA to 5.21. In his postseason debut last week, he pitched six scoreless innings in Game 3 of the Division Series, defusing some early scoring threats by the Marlins.
“Just to be able to go out there and not havemy( best) stuffff and fifind a way to get out of some jams and then end up pitching deep in the ballgame and giving us a chance to win,” Wright said, “I think that was a big confifidencebooster and something I’m going to take in with me to this next start.”
The Br aves be l i eve Wright’s recent progress is sustainable.
“I think a lot of it for him is mental,” backup catcher Tyler Flowers said. “I think we’ve seen glimpses of this kind of success fromhimfor an inning or two here and there, and then it’d kind of unfold on himpretty quick. I think he finally believes and trusts the stuffff he has.
“Not that he was fearful before, but ( he’s) defifinitely more fearless now, trusting his defense and just trying to get some contact early and then take a couple of shots toput guysaway ( withstrikeouts) and then go back to trusting his defense and let them put it in play for him.
“But defifinitely his body language and his mentality seemto be muchmore consistent and much more positive throughout his last few outings, which has helped him be more successful.”