Atlanta Braves Have The WORST Rotation In The MLB
By Jeff Schafer
What’s All This Talk About The Braves Having The Worst Rotation?
Inexperienced, unseasoned, talented – are all words to describe the 2016 Atlanta Braves rotation, but is worst a proper explanation? Braves fans probably don’t think so, but what is the perception of folks outside our fan base?
USA Today writer, Ted Berg, drew up his list of ranking the MLB’s rotations. His top 5? Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Washington Nationals, Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals. Four out of the top five and seven out of the top 10 are NL rotations.
Berg’s bottom five teams? Starting at #26 Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves in dead last.
The Braves rotation may still have many question marks heading into Spring Training so I can see why Berg may feel this way. Atlanta will definitely have some interesting decisions to make within the next weeks/months prior to the start of the season.
Looking At What We’ve Got
As we head into the final days of January, the Braves have many starting pitchers would could fill out the rotation. Pitchers and catchers report to the Braves Spring Training facility on February 19th. The names we currently have are – Julio Teheran, Matt Wisler, Manny Banuelos, Mike Foltynewicz, Bud Norris, Williams Perez, Ryan Weber, Kyle Kendrick, Jhoulys Chacin and possibly prospect Sean Newcomb, Tyrell Jenkins and Aaron Blair.
If healthy, Teheran and Wisler are my only locks for 2016. This is why the 2016 Spring Training games will be entertaining to pay attention to.
The Veterans
Norris is the seasoned veteran, with seven years experience under his belt. He had a fantastic season in 2014, but struggled in Baltimore and San Diego. Though he’s been a starting pitcher throughout his career, after dealing with bronchitis and a couple poor starts, in the middle of 2015 he was moved to the bullpen. He finished the 2015 season with a 6.72 ERA and a 5.04 FIP. The Braves will hope Norris will return to the guy we saw in 2014. Atlanta has pulled this move with quite a few veteran pitchers in recent years.
Kendrick and Chacin are the veteran wildcards here. Chacin has dealt with shoulder and back issues for the past two seasons, but was really a solid pitcher for the Rockies since 2010. Kendrick has been known for being the backend rotation starting pitcher, but had a career worst year in 2015.
The Young Guns
Banuelos was once the top prospect in the Yankees organization and got a taste of the MLB in 2015 with the Braves. He started six games last year until he suffered more elbow issues. He had a bone spur removed from his left elbow, but is expected to be ready for Spring Training. The now 24-year-old had Tommy John surgery back in 2012 and with these elbow issues it’s tough to expect too much. The potential is there and hopefully he can stay on the mound in 2016.
Foltynewicz showed promise at times in 2015, but other times looked to need more seasoning. He has the stuff to be a middle-to-top of the rotation guy. With a new split-finger pitch developed, he’ll look to find his command and get hitters out.
Perez and Weber are both still young pitchers who really haven’t been talked about much. Perez will be 25-years-old in May and Weber will be 26-years-old in August. Perez was having a really good season in 2015 until he was struck in the foot by a batted ball. After that and spending almost a month on the DL, he wasn’t the same. Webber joined the Braves in September after spending time with both the Mississippi Braves and Gwinnett. He reminds us Kris Medlen with his 6’0″ 180 pound frame, pitching techniques, and growing in the minors as a relief and starting pitcher.
The Babies Who Will Be Grown Soon
Newcomb, Jenkins and Blair are very close to being MLB ready and it’s possible they earn a spot on the roster with a great showing during Spring Training. Depending on which top prospect list you’re looking at, Newcomb and Blair are usually in the top 5 and always all three are in the top 10.
Predictions For Entering The 2016 Season
I think the Braves start out the season with these five in their rotation. Though it’s very possibly it doesn’t stay like this for long.
- Julio Teheran RHP
- Matt Wisler RHP
- Manny Banuelos LHP
- Bud Norris RHP
- Kyle Kendrick RHP
Weber and Foltynewicz to the bullpen. Chacin and Perez go to Gwinnett to prove they are healthy. Newcomb, Jenkins and Blair start in Gwinnett and knock on the door very quickly.