3 biggest concerns for Atlanta Braves heading into postseason

What will our starters do?

Who thought a couple of months ago that our starting rotation would be a bigger concern than the bullpen going into the postseason?

I still have some of my own concerns about the bullpen, but for the most part, I feel pretty good about Chris Martin, Shane Greene, and Mark Melancon. I feel even better if Max Fried becomes part of that bullpen as well.

But I do have some reservations about our starting pitchers.

I am all for starting Dallas Keuchel in game one, but his last three starts have not been very inspiring. He’s 0-3 in those starts with a 6.19 ERA.

The formula for Keuchel’s success is pretty simple — don’t give up home runs. The Atlanta Braves are 4-6 in his starts this year when he gives up a home run.

Fortunately for him and the Braves, the St. Louis Cardinals are 24th in baseball in home runs.

Mike Soroka has also struggled with the home run ball in September giving up six in the month after giving up just eight in the first five months of the seaon.

He also had his highest ERA for any month in September at 4.00.

I posed this question on Twitter…

We got some pretty obvious responses, but the one that stuck out to me the most said, “Folty is good Folty.”

And that’s my biggest key as well.

Folty has been the Atlanta Braves best starting pitcher since he came back from Triple-A. He posted a 1.50 ERA in five September starts.

If we get the 2018 version of Folty, and the one that’s been so dominant for over a month now, then this starting rotation looks much different.

His start in game two becomes even bigger now because he’ll likely be opposed by Jack Flaherty.

But in my eyes, Folty is still a big question mark.

I certainly feel like this starting rotation is good enough to carry us in the playoffs, but I wouldn’t say my confidence level in them is very high at the moment.