The Braves are moving left-hander Drew Smyly to the bullpen for at least the next couple of days, manager Brian Snitker said during his pre-game Zoom call Saturday.
It was rough August for Smyly, who posted a 6.08 ERA in five starts. The veteran surrendered seven home runs over his past two starts, including four in his latest outing at Dodger Stadium.
Smyly also has exhibited a velocity decline. Snitker suggested after the lefty’s most recent start that it could be because of his workload after Smyly logged only 26-1/3 innings during the shortened 2020 campaign, but Smyly maintained he felt well physically. He’s pitched 115-2/3 innings over 23 starts this season.
“If you ask him, I don’t think he’s concerned with innings,” Snitker said. “There’s probably a situation that may open up next week where we slide him in, too. As of right now, we’ll keep him in the bullpen for a couple days.”
Snitker implied the Braves could start Smyly next week, when they face the Nationals and Marlins to begin a 10-game homestand Tuesday. Letting Smyly face either of those two clubs at home makes more sense than starting him at homer-friendly Coors Field. But with a full rotation and off days Sept. 6 and Sept. 13, the Braves won’t have to start Smyly.
To finish the Colorado series, Ian Anderson was slated to start Saturday followed by Charlie Morton in the series finale. Max Fried, who last pitched the finale in Los Angeles on Wednesday, would be aligned to start the series opener Tuesday against the Nationals with an extra day of rest thanks to Monday’s off-day.
Some rotation maneuvering was inevitable this month. The Braves were using a six-man group that included Fried, Morton, Anderson, Huascar Ynoa, Touki Toussaint and Smyly. As Smyly’s troubles mounted, it became easier to see him shifted into the bullpen, even if it’s on a temporary basis. For now, Smyly gives the Braves another reliever capable of covering multiple innings.
Smyly, 32, signed a one-year, $11 million deal with the Braves last offseason. He’s scheduled to be a free agent this winter.
