Left-hander Tucker Davidson will make another start for the Braves next week, manager Brian Snitker said. The start likely will come in Philadelphia against the Phillies.
Davidson, 25, was stellar in his latest outing, holding the Nationals to one hit in 5-2/3 innings Thursday. It was his third career start and second this season after he allowed three runs over six innings against the Mets on May 18.
“Each start I get, I feel a little more comfortable,” Davidson said after his latest start. “Just the routine of it. Coming up here, being around the guys, being in the atmosphere, the third deck, everything. Being myself out there and going and attacking the hitters.”
The Braves also have Bryse Wilson and Kyle Wright as starter depth, but for now, they’re rolling with Davidson as their fifth starter. The team will rely on its depth through the summer with Mike Soroka and Huascar Ynoa sidelined for a long time (and in Soroka’s case, possibly the season).
Davidson has impressed with his fastball-slider-curveball mix. How he hones his command will determine his ultimate future in the majors. Davidson walked five in his past start, so that’s the primary area in which he needs to improve. He’s encouraged the team with his mound presence and his stuff.
Braves notes:
- The Braves made a roster move Saturday, placing lefty Grant Dayton on the 10-day injured list with left-shoulder inflammation. Dayton pitched Friday during the Braves’ disastrous fifth inning in which they allowed eight runs in a loss to the Dodgers.
“It had been biting him a little bit,” Snitker said. “I think he was trying to get through it last night (Friday). He did, and it was bothering him. So it’ll be good to shut him down and get him right. We’re going to need him. It’s something I think that became too much to go through.”
- Right-hander Jacob Webb was promoted to fill Dayton’s spot. He was available Saturday. The Braves were still debating when to promote veteran righty Shane Greene, who’s been preparing to rejoin the team in Triple-A Gwinnett. It’s possible he’ll make one more appearance with Gwinnett, but Greene is close.
- Braves starter Ian Anderson has faced the Dodgers three times in his young career, seeing them twice during the 2020 National League Championship Series and then Friday night, when he held them hitless for four innings before the Braves unraveled in the fifth.
“They’re definitely a deep lineup,” Anderson said Friday. “They take some very close pitches and work some really good at-bats. That can wear on you. … The more pitches they make you throw, the quicker they can get into the bullpen or wear you down. I think that’s the toughest part about those guys.”
- Down at Double-A Mississippi, catching prospect Shea Langeliers has caught fire. He’s hitting .375 this month, including a three-homer game June 2. Langeliers was hitting .176 on May 21; he was hitting .284 entering Saturday.
Langeliers’ offense growth is a minor-league subplot to follow. The Braves hope that he and William Contreras, currently handling the load in the majors, are the franchise’s future catching duo.
“The reports on both are really, really good with this kid in his first full year in Double-A,” Snitker said recently. “They are very encouraging. Offensive, defensive reports have been really good all around. We knew he was a good player. You look at his skill set, too, my God, when was the last time we had two catchers in our organization with the skills of William and Shea? That’s pretty good.”
