The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
PRO BASEBALL BRAVES’ TOMLIN STEPS BACK INTO STARTER SPOT
Veteran right-hander says he never lost starter mentality.
A starter for much of his time with the Cleveland
Indians, Josh Tomlin knows what to expect heading into his first start of the season for the Braves.
“You never really lose that starter mentality, you just go to the bullpen and kind of develop a new mentality for that particular role you’re in,” the 35-yearold said. “But I’ve started for eight or nine years of my career, so this isn’t going to be anything new to me, for sure.”
Tomlin has been helpful in the bullpen this season (11⅓ innings pitched, 1.59 ERA, 0.794 WHIP). With a handful of starting pitchers either injured or struggling, Tomlin will start today against the Nationals.
Tomlin won’t change anything in his approach, he said. “I’m not going to try to turn into this starter that’s going to go eight innings
the first time, I’m just going to take it one pitch at a time. I know it’s cliche, but I haven’t started in a long time, so my job’s to go out there and pitch the first inning, go back out in the second and pitch the second inning, and then go from there. Whenever (manager Brian Snitker) comes out there and takes the ball from me, I’m done. And then take the next step going after that.”
Last se a son w ith t he Braves, Tomlin pitched in 51 games (79⅓ innings, with one start), finishing with an ERA of 3.74 and a 1.12 WHIP.
Tomlin expressed confidence in the Braves’ starting rotation moving forward: “I think we have some good starters in the rotation that are getting their feet wet right now. They’re going to figure it out, it’s just a matter of time. It’s hard to learn on the job whenever you’re in a playoff-contending team and it’s a little bit more magnified, obviously.
“This team has a bright future of starters ahead of it, there’s no question in my mind. I understand right now they don’t have a starter for tomorrow, so they asked me to step in and do it. Very willing to do it, very capable of doing it, I feel like. I’ve done it for a long time in my career, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Albies progressing, ‘still not there yet’
Neither Ozzie Albies nor Ronald Acuna were in the lineup for the Braves’ game vs. the Nationals on Monday night, and it sounds as if they might be out for a little while longer while continuing to heal.
Braves manager Brian Snitker o ffered i njury updates on Albies (right wrist bone contusion), who took some swings Monday, and Acuna (left wrist inflammation), who is still sore.
“He’s still not 100%, right-handed, and that’s the thing we were worried about,” Snitker said of Albies. “But he was swinging, it’s better, but it’s still not there yet. He did all his defensive work. Ronald’s still pretty sore. So it’s probably going to be a little while on him.”
Albies has hit off the tee and done soft toss from the right side, and has taken coach’s batting prac tice from the left side. The Braves are still being cautious with the switch-hitter’s wrist, per Snitker, and it’s not something they’ll rush.
“If Ozzie’s going to be Ozzie, it’s going to be 100%, the way he plays,” Snitker said. “But it was encouraging, what I saw, righthanded, and he said it is feeling better. So that’s a good thing, so it’s progressing in the right way.”
Braves reinstate Adams
Before their game Monday night, the Braves reinstated infielder Matt Adams from the 10-day injured list. He was placed on the IL Aug. 5 with a left hamstring strain.
Adams, who was released by the Mets on July 18, had his contract selected by the Braves five days later, after they signed him to a minor league contract July 20. Adams is hitting .212 this season, with two home runs and seven RBIs.
The team also optioned
RHP Chad Sobotka to the alternate training site in Gwinnett after Sunday’s 4-0 win against the Marlins.