The young starters took their lumps on Friday and veteran Chien-Ming Wang got a quick hook on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Braves veteran lefty Wandy Rodriguez had another strong outing in his bid to secure one of two open rotation spots to begin the season.
Rodriguez pitched four scoreless innings against the Astros on Saturday with two hits allowed, two strikeouts and three walks. Since allowing a run in one inning pitched against the Mets on March 4, Rodriguez has posted seven consecutive scoreless innings to improve his ERA to 2.25 in spring games.
Rodriguez, 36, credits his two starts in the Dominican Winter League for getting him ready for camp.
“My arm feels very good right now,” he said. “I try to put the ball wherever I want so a lot of fastballs inside, fastballs away. I have good command.”
Rodriguez had just 18 major league starts in the past two seasons because of injuries and was 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in six starts with Pittsburgh in 2014. He signed with the Braves after reportedly failing a physical with the Phillies and his contract will pay him $2 million this season if he makes the big-league roster out of camp.
Rodriguez’s clean work contrasted with the struggles of three other starting candidates.
Wang relieved Rodriguez in the fifth inning against the Astros and allowed three runs with one out recorded before departing. Youngsters Mike Foltynewicz and Manny Abuelos both were pulled in the first inning from their respective split squad games on Friday.
Veteran left-hander Eric Stults, another starting candidate, is scheduled to pitch against the Blue Jays on Sunday. In his two previous outings Stults allowed a total of one run over six innings.
