Atlanta Braves Report: Newcomb under consideration for NLDS start

MLB Braves reporter, Mark Bowman, dropped an interesting tweet earlier today about a possible surprise addition to the NLDS rotation.

To this point, the Atlanta Braves had announced 2 starter pitchers for Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS.  The presumption is/has been that Kevin Gausman would be lined up for Game 3.

Given Newcomb’s occasional struggles in August and September, most were of the opinion that Sean Newcomb would either have a long relief role from the bullpen or possibly sit on the sidelines for the duration of this initial series.

Well… may not:

Wait, what?

I wrote last week about how patience is needed for Sean Newcomb. But that is for the long-term, not the short-term.

Yes, his last few starts of September were better. In two of his last three starts, he gave up a total of only one earned run.  But these starts sandwiched a beat down at the hands of the Nationals.

He also appeared out of the bullpen in the final game of the season, where he pitched two thirds of an inning.

Think there is a “but” coming?  Yep.

But in his five August starts, Newcomb carried an ERA of 6.75 and opponents slashed .327/.398/.527.

Alternatives A-plenty

Like I said in my previous piece, it looked like he was wearing down after his first full season in the big leagues. He made it out of the fifth inning just twice over his last eight starts.

In comparison to the other starting candidates… well, there really is not a comparison.

Julio Teheran, who we all thought would be apart of the postseason rotation, pitched much better down the closing stretch of the season.  In September, he had an ERA of 2.76, while limiting opponents to a .160 batting average.

Touki Toussiant was solid, but not spectacular, over his final three starts. He allowed two earned runs in each.  His only blemish was a terrible bullpen outing where he walked four batters and allowed three earned runs against the Cardinals.

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Couple together Newcomb’s performances with how the Dodgers are hitting the baseball right now and that could spell disaster:  Los Angeles averaged nearly six runs per game during the month of September and scored more than 10 runs five times

Manny Machado, Justin Turner, Brian Dozier, and Yasiel Puig along with others present a formidable right-handed lineup that would assuredly give Newcomb fits.

Unless Alex Anthopolous, Brian Snitker and others know or see something I’m not, Sean Newcomb should not be starting in the NLDS.

This decision is not complicated.