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Atlanta Braves: still no timetable for starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy’s return

By Jeff Schafer

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 29: Starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy #32 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the sixth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 29, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves won 10-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 29: Starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy #32 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch in the sixth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 29, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Braves won 10-1. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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Braves starting pitcher still with no timetable for his return

The Atlanta Braves and General Manager Alex Anthopoulos are in a spot where decisions are going to have to be made…and soon.  It’s currently July 26th, five and a half days until the MLB Trade Deadline hits.  What are the Braves going to do?

Starting pitching as been a topic for debate for a while now.  When the Braves went into this season, we kind of had a plethora of pitchers who could start.  Now?  It’s not looking that way and we’re possible looking to trade for an arm.

It’s not un-natural for MLB teams to be dealing with starting pitchers going down with injuries.  The Braves currently have starting pitchers Mike Soroka, Max Fried and Brandon McCarthy on the disabled list as well as Luiz Gohara, who we were hoping to have in our starting rotation, in Gwinnett.  Also, Julio Teheran is struggling this season…4.42 ERA in 110 innings pitched and is giving up 1.6 home runs per 9 innings, 4.3 walks per 9 innings which are both career worst stats.

But as we’re facing the trade deadline, the questions of when these pitchers will be able to return is more meaningful. As the Braves sit at 54-44 and a game and a half out of first place in the NL East, we’re definitely in contention.  The Braves won’t be sellers this year, will they be buyers?

McCarthy has been dealing with right knee tendonitis since he was placed on the 10-day DL on June 28th…it feels like longer then that, no?  He was actually pitching really well for the Braves before he was sidelined.  The 35-year-old was 6-3 with a 4.92 ERA in 15 starts.  He wasn’t pitching his best, but was a solid arm and a veteran for the rotation.

We haven’t heard much from McCarthy (other than his fantastic twitter responses to random people) since he responded to David O’Brien’s tweet about McCarthy not being with the team and at home in Arizona rehabbing his knee with his own physical therapist and DOB saying “that’s not typical in the middle of the season.”

Today, Braves manager Brian Snitker told the media that McCarthy is back from Arizona and is playing catch.  Snit went on to say that his knee is not ready yet for mound work and no timetable for his return.

This update isn’t not-normal.  We hear player injury updates all the time, but to give the “no timetable for his return” comment makes me think that the Braves may be looking for other options for the second half of the 2018 season.

Next. Braves being connected to Detroit and Tampa Bay. dark

If McCarthy can’t make it back on the mound anytime soon, that doesn’t help us at all.  Braves may have to go shopping.  My pick?  I would absolutely love Jacob deGrom in a Braves uniform, but I don’t see that happening.  Plus, it could ruin our farm system.  Marcus Stroman is a name that I’ve liked for a while, plus he’s a Toronto Blue Jays pitcher…we all know by now where Alex Anthopoulos came from…

In any case, what we do know is that McCarthy won’t be back for a while still and Mike Soroka is still “a couple more weeks away” from resuming throwing.

The Braves serious about competing this year?  They’re going to have to trade for an arm…and possible a bullpen arm. But please don’t trade for Mike Moustakas!

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