Baseball’s top team faces significant pitching challenges as they head into the final week of the regular season.

 

In recent days, two of Atlanta’s key starting pitchers, Max Fried and Charlie Morton, have been placed on the injured list, leaving the Braves with uncertainty about their playoff pitching roster. As the NL Division Series is set to begin on October 7, only Spencer Strider (19-5) and Bryce Elder (12-4) among the regular starters seem certain to take the mound. Strider remains confident in his team’s abilities, regardless of the health status of the pitching staff.

 

He stated, “This whole organization is something to marvel at. It’s not just been 26 guys either. It’s been a whole group.”

Among the potential starters who might step up unexpectedly in the postseason is Allan Winans, who has moved between the big leagues and Triple-A due to pitching injuries this season. Winans expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute during this crucial part of the season.

The Braves have secured a bye for the best-of-three wild-card round, but their chances in the best-of-five NL Division Series depend on the health of Max Fried, who is dealing with a lingering blister issue on his left index finger. If Fried can return in time, Atlanta can manage with three starters, given that the schedule includes three off days if the series goes the distance. Without Fried, they may need to turn to a pitcher they didn’t expect to rely on in the playoffs.

 

These late-season pitching setbacks evoke memories of the previous year when the Braves were upset by the Phillies in the NLDS. Max Fried battled a flu bug, and Spencer Strider dealt with an oblique injury during that series, resulting in subpar performances.

This season’s Braves have faced a rotation in flux, with two top starting pitchers missing significant time, and the fifth slot in the rotation has been a season-long experiment. Despite these challenges, the Braves have managed to win 100 games for the second consecutive season, a testament to their resilience.

 

While the Braves have utilized 16 starting pitchers this season, they are unlikely to rush the development of their promising first-round draft pick, Hurston Waldrep, by promoting him to the big leagues at a critical juncture in the season. If additional starters are needed, rookies with limited MLB experience, such as Winans, Jaret Shuster, Dylan Dodd, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Darius Vines, are the most likely options.

Spencer Strider summarized the Braves’ season by emphasizing the importance of the entire organization, saying, “You don’t win 100 games or however many we end up winning with just 26 guys. If there’s anything anybody should learn this year from this team, it takes more than 26 guys. It takes a whole organization.”