Atlanta Braves: AA says no opt-outs expected, talks managing SPs

Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos said he doesn’t believe any of the players on the team will decide to opt-out of playing the 2020 season.

Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos does not believe any Braves’ players will decide to sit this season out, according to Bill Shanks of Sports Illustrated.

This comes after a few players stepped up and opted out of the season. It began with Mike Leake of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The right-handed pitcher consulted with his family and decided it decided the best decision for him would be to begin preparations for 2021.

Ryan Zimmerman and Joe Ross of the Washington Nationals announced they would be sitting out the season. Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond, whose wife is pregnant, has also chosen to stay away from the game in 2020.

Atlanta Braves – Piggybacking Pitchers

Anthopoulos continued with Shanks about the idea of “piggybacking” pitchers this season. He expressed his confidence in using the strategy for the first three or four weeks. Only asking veteran players like Cole Hamels and King Felix to pitch “two or three innings” can maximize their efficiency, knowing that quality arms like Touki Toussaint, Sean Newcomb, and Kyle Wright are waiting in the wings.

All three of the aforementioned pitchers were having very solid springs before the pandemic caused the suspension of play.

Newcomb had a 2.00 ERA in nine innings with 11 strikeouts and just two walks. Kyle Wright posted a 2.03 ERA in 13.1 innings with three walks and 15 strikeouts. Toussaint’s ERA was the highest of the three at 2.08 in 8.2 innings.

The Braves also boast another top pitching prospect with some major league experience under his belt in Bryse Wilson.

The quality starting pitching depth and a bullpen with five closers from last season have the provide a much smoother road to getting the starters in mid-season form than many teams may have.