Braves Reshape Rotation Williams Perez in Eric Stults Out

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The Braves announced that Williams Perez – shown here pitching against the Cincinnati Reds – will replace Eric Stults in the rotation for Wednesday’s game against the Rays Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

According to a report by David O’Brien in the AJC the Braves are reshaping the rotation again inserting Williams Perez in place of Eric Stults for Wednesday’s start against the Rays.

Reshape Rotation Repeat

The last time the Braves had to reshape the rotation they inserted Mike Foltynewicz in place of Trevor Cahill. This time it’s the struggling Stults who moves to the pen. Although Stults won one game and the Braves won two of his starts, he’s not been particularly good after being selected for the rotation over Wandy Rodriguez.

He started the year just mediocre but in May he’s been downright awful. In his three starts this month he pitched to a 7.00 ERA 1.444 WHIP with opposing hitters slashing .332/.338/.662/1.000 stroking a a double, three triples and six homers. Each start got progressively worse and now he’s in the bullpen, one assumes he’s a mop up man or spot starter as pitcher like Stults are rarely successful in relief.

Williams Perez

The Braves brought up Perez 10 days ago and with 20/20 hindsight it’s obvious they were looking to replace Stults when they did so. Skipper Fredi Gonzalez forshadowed this without committing in his quote to the AJC when he was originally called up.

"“We are going to develop him out of the bullpen. . .we get we’ll give him a couple innings here, three innings there. You need a spot start, he’s the guy. If there’s a long rain delay or a starter comes out early, he’s the guy. . .That’s the way it used to be done back in the day.”"

Perez’ first outing in relief against the Nats wasn’t good but in his second time out against the Reds he went two scoreless innings allowing only one hit. He made five starts for the G- Braves this this year pitching to a 1.33 ERA, 1.370 WHIP striking out 21 and walking nine in 27IP allowing he allowed just one home run

More from Tomahawk Take

He isn’t going to burn anyone down with his heat, he is however going to keep the ball in the park and generate lots of ground balls. Last season with Pearl he allowed four homers in 133 IP striking out 94 and walking 39. As you can see he has a history of inducing ground balls and with out infield that’s a recipe for success.

Year	Lev	G	BF	IP	ERA	FIP	SIERA	BABIP	HR/9
2011	ROK	6	67	15	1.80	3.20	4.22	.288	0.60
2011	ROK	7	112	24.33	3.33	3.98	3.89	.359	0.37
2011	–	13	179	39.33	2.75	3.68	3.97	.328	0.46
2012	ROK	13	234	56.34	4.15	3.13	2.62	.302	0.80
2013	A+	9	232	55	2.62	3.53	3.75	.289	0.65
2013	A	14	292	70	4.24	3.34	3.45	.332	0.64
2013	–	23	524	125	3.53	3.42	3.59	.313	0.65
2014	AA	26	555	133	2.91	3.31	3.86	.288	0.27
2015	AAA	5	114	27	1.33	3.13	3.9	.329	0.33
Total	–	80	1606	545	3.17	3.34	3.64	.305	0.50

Year	Lev	G	BF	IP	GB%	LD%	K%	BB%	KS%
2011	ROK	6	67	15	30.2%	17.0%	16.4%	4.5%	10.4%
2011	ROK	7	112	24.33	49.2%	12.3%	24.1%	12.5%	15.2%
2011	–	13	179	39.33	40.7%	14.4%	21.2%	9.5%	13.4%
2012	ROK	13	234	56.34	61.7%	11.4%	23.1%	3.8%	16.2%
2013	A+	9	232	55	49.1%	17.0%	20.3%	7.8%	13.4%
2013	A	14	292	70	52.8%	17.0%	20.2%	6.2%	9.9%
2013	–	23	524	125	51.2%	17.0%	20.2%	6.9%	11.5%
2014	AA	26	555	133	55.0%	15.1%	16.9%	7.0%	11.5%
2015	AAA	5	114	27	51.2%	17.9%	18.4%	7.9%	12.3%
Total	–	80	1606	545	53.0%	15.3%	19.5%	6.8%	12.5%

Statistics from Minor League Central

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