Atlanta Braves should give Mike Soroka the Game 3 start

The Atlanta Braves have begun to reshuffle their rotation in preparation for the division series, with Mike  Soroka looking like the Game 3 starter.

With three viable options to be the Game 1 starter in their rotation, the Atlanta Braves have some choices when laying out the order for their playoff series with, presumably, the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mike Soroka, who has been their best starting pitcher all season, was bumped from his start Wednesday in Kansas City to Friday in New York. This would lead many to believe he will be in line to start Game 3 in Busch Stadium.

This is a decision I think makes perfect sense.

Soroka’s home/road splits are drastic. At SunTrust Park, Soroka is 6-3 with a 4.14 ERA, 1.303 WHIP and has allowed nine home runs in 13 starts. On the road, Soroka is 7-1 with a 1.35 ERA, 0.918 WHIP in 15 starts.

While I understand those who think that it would be smart to have the staff’s best pitcher start two games in a series, sliding Soroka into that third spot gives the Braves the best chance to advance to the NLCS.

Consider these numbers:

Dallas Keuchel has a 2.74 ERA at home, while surrendering a 4.76 ERA on the road. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last eight starts.

Mike Foltynewicz has been the Braves’ best pitcher over the past two months. He is 4-0 with a 1.49 ERA in his last seven starts. He has allowed only three home runs, while striking out 36 batters in 42 innings.

So why not go Keuchel and Foltynewicz in the first two games, win those two and give Game 3 to Soroka, who has dominated on the road?

I know it’s easy to say that, but in theory, sign me up for that plan.

The Atlanta Braves are in the enviable position where they can move any of these three around and still feel confident in advancing.

But Soroka on the road in Game 3 in the most important game of the series is the most favorable position.