Atlanta Braves: Julio Teheran Deserves Opening Day Start

The Atlanta Braves appear to have lined up their rotation so that Julio Teheran will start on Opening Day for the sixth consecutive season.

Once this move was made by the Atlanta Braves — it has yet to be officially announced — fans on Twitter were in an uproar.

But who else would you rather have on Opening Day at this point?

The honor likely would have gone to Mike Foltynewicz, but who knows when he’ll be back.

Sean Newcomb would make some sense, but he’s still young and struggling to find command. Kevin Gausman has been terrible and injured this Spring.

And it would be a lot of pressure for Touki Toussaint or Kyle Wright to make an Opening Day start in Philadelphia.

The obvious choice here is Julio Teheran, and he deserves to get the start.

On Opening Day in 2014, Julio pitched a good game against the Milwaukee Brewers allowing just two runs over six innings, but he took a loss because the offense failed to score a single run.

The next season he gave up one run over six innings in a win against the Miami Marlins on Opening Day.

He got a no-decision against the Nationals in 2016 after giving up just two runs in six innings pitched. In 2017 he also got a no-decision after pitching six scoreless innings against the New York Mets.

And then last year he battled through 5.2 innings and left after giving up four runs on four hits and three walks. He got another no-decision as the Braves — and Gabe Kapler — bailed him out.

But as you can see, Julio has had a great deal of success on Opening Day in the past. He had gone six innings in every start until that 5.2 outing in 2018. And he had given up two runs or fewer in each of those starts until last year as well.

Now maybe that start to begin the 2018 season is a sign that his time as the Opening Day starter is over, but I think he deserves one more shot. And again, who else is there?

Let’s also keep in mind that Opening Day is just one game of 162 in the regular season. It doesn’t make Julio the ace of this staff.

But there is definitely a different feeling about Opening Day, and of the options available I feel the most comfortable with Julio on the mound. Let’s just hope Bryce Harper‘s ankle is still bruised on Opening Day.