Gavin Floyd Stays in Braves Rotation

Braves say Floyd will remain the rotation. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Tonight the Braves said that Gavin Floyd will stay in the rotation but not a six man rotation according to Skipper Fredi Gonzalez.

"“I don’t want to go six-man rotation, I don’t think it works. I don’t think it’s good. But (Floyd) is one guy that would not go to the bullpen, I don’t think, just because of the Tommy John. We all know how the bullpen thing is. You get up. You get down. You go in. You got to warm up in 15 (pitches), and I don’t want to do that to him.”"

Last night Floyd went seven strong against the Cards allowing one run on six hits while striking out five. Gonzalez said no decision had been made yet about who would move to the pen.

"“Maybe coming off the off day tomorrow we’ll readjust, reconvene, talk and see where we’re at, but right now we have no plans,” Gonzalez said."

Regardless of the spin they try to put on it, the man likely to end up joining the bullpen crew is Alex Wood. By moving Woody they solve two problems; 1) keeping Woody’s innings down to a manageable level and 2) adding a left handed reliever to backup an inconsistent Luis Avilan. Avilan has been the only southpaw available since Ian Thomas was sent to Gwinnett when Floyd was activated. Wood worked very effectively in relief last year and adds a couple mph to his heater as a reliever. The Braves need another lefty to offset the left handed power bats that populate the NL East.