LOS ANGELES – Touki Toussaint will start the Braves’ series opener in Colorado on Thursday, manager Brian Snitker said Wednesday.
The Braves have listed their probable starter as TBD, but Snitker confirmed it will be Toussaint, as expected. Toussaint rejoins the rotation after making a one-inning relief appearance last weekend.
Toussaint spent much of the season on the injured list, but he’s been exceptional since his July return. The right-hander has allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of his seven starts. He’s shown much better command and poise than past years, seemingly taking a leap as a still-young player.
While Toussaint has spent parts of four seasons in the majors, he’d logged only 38 appearances across three years entering 2021. He’s now earned a spot in the Braves’ rotation, which is a well-stocked group with the returns of Ian Anderson and Huascar Ynoa.
Ynoa, Anderson and Charlie Morton will start the remaining three games in Denver, respectively. The Braves are off Sept. 6 before beginning their next homestand, but Snitker didn’t say when lefty Drew Smyly will make another start.
“I don’t know,” Snitker said when asked what the team’s plans were for Smyly. The southpaw has surrendered seven homers over his last two starts and owns a 6.08 ERA across his past five outings while exhibiting a dip in his velocity.
