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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez begins rehab stint with the Gwinnett Stripers

By Jeff Schafer

DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Anibal Sanchez #19 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after allowing a fourth inning solo homerun to Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies (not pictured) during a game at Coors Field on April 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 7: Anibal Sanchez #19 of the Atlanta Braves reacts after allowing a fourth inning solo homerun to Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies (not pictured) during a game at Coors Field on April 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Braves are on the path to get back veteran starting pitcher

When will the Atlanta Braves get back veteran starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez?  Wouldn’t we all want to know…the biggest question I have is how will we use Sanchez when he does return?

The right-handed pitcher has been sidelined with a right hamstring strain since April 18th, but is on the right path to returning to Atlanta.  He suffered the injury during a pregame warm-up in a game which he was supposed to start.

Just days ago, we heard that Sanchez would pitch in an extended spring training game today (Monday).  Then, start Saturday for the Gwinnett Stripers.  Fantastic, right?  Well, it looks as though this moved a bit quicker.

Braves manager, Brian Snitker, told media before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies that they’ve sent Sanchez to Gwinnett to start tonight’s game against the Durham Bulls.  The plan for him is to pitch four innings or roughly 65 pitches.

Good sign I’d say.  Atlanta has pinpointed the May 28th date on the calendar for Sanchez’s return because of a doubleheader scheduled against the New York Mets.  Sanchez would get the ball on that Monday either the day game 1:10pm or the night game which would start at 7:10pm in NYC.  Brandon McCarthy would probably be the other Braves starter that day.

Sanchez started off the 2018 season remarkably well for the Braves.  The 34-year-old pitched in three games for the Braves, starting two of them.  He held a 1.29 ERA with 14 strikeouts and six walks.

The Braves signed him on March 16, 2018 to join a pretty cluttered rotation, but he found his way into it because of the injuries to Gohara and prospects not being ready just yet.

Sanchez’s start with the Gwinnett Stripers

Okay, I’ll start off by saying Sanchez didn’t have the start he or the Braves would have wanted him to have.  Ouch.

The 13-year veteran MLB pitcher lasted 3.2 innings and gave up eight earned runs.  EIGHT.   Sanchez allowed eight hits (two home runs), three walks and had five strikeouts.

He gave up a run in the 1st inning, two runs in the 2nd and 3rd and then three runs in the 4th.

Sanchez threw 69 pitches and 44 of them were strikes.  Maybe he was just trying to throw meatballs?  Cough, I mean strikes?

A decent start from Sanchez would have kept the plan for May 28th in order.  What does this start do for that idea?  That date is just a week away.

Next: Atlanta Braves have a few closer options

If Sanchez isn’t the answer for that date, the Braves could go with Matt Wisler, Lucas Sims or Max Fried.

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