A rash of pitching injuries and recent demotions to the minors has left the Braves, as of Thursday afternoon, with no obvious choice to start Saturday’s game against the Cardinals at St. Louis.
Rookie Aaron Blair pitched well in his past three starts at Triple-A Gwinnett and put himself in position to be recalled and start Saturday, but that changed when he injured his left knee during a bullpen session Wednesday at Gwinnett. He was placed on Gwinnett’s disabled list Thursday.
Braves general manager John Coppolella said the severity of the injury was still being determined Thursday.
Matt Wisler, who was demoted to Triple-A last week, pitched well in his first start for Gwinnett Tuesday, allowing seven hits, three runs and no walks in eight innings. But he’d be on short rest Saturday, and even if the Braves were willing to bring him back after one start — which seems doubtful — they certainly wouldn’t do it on short rest.
Prospects such as Chris Ellis (Triple-A) and Lucas Sims (Double-A) haven’t shown they’re ready yet for a major league start, and besides, Sims just pitched on Wednesday and wouldn’t be available.
Lefty Manny Banuelos continues to struggle with shoulder problems and was placed on the Double-A Mississippi disabled list Thursday. After being demoted from Triple-A, he was 0-2 with a 5.40 ERA in four starts for Mississippi with eight walks and four homers allowed in 18 1/3 innings.
Top left-handed prospect Sean Newcomb, 23, has spent all season at Double-A. While he’s pitched better lately, he’s still issuing too many walks and has allowed four or more earned runs in four of his past six starts. He was 5-7 with a 4.44 ERA and 1.434 WHIP before his Thursday night start for Mississippi.
Coppolella said Thursday the Braves were still considering options for Saturday’s game. They could go with 35-year-old journeyman Roberto Hernandez, though he hasn’t impressive in three starts (0-2, 5.52 ERA, .339 opponents’ average) for Gwinnett since signing a minor league contract with the Braves.
Still, unless they scramble to add another pitcher from outside the organization, Hernandez might be the best option for Saturday. Unless, that, is, they bring back Ryan Weber.
The Braves don’t have a long-relief type pitcher in their current bullpen who could be expected to pitch three or four innings. Rookie reliever Weber, a starter before last month, could’ve made a spot start and worked at least a few innings, but he was optioned back to Triple-A Wednesday.
If the Braves wanted Weber to start Saturday, he could return that quickly only if another player on the major league roster went on the DL. Weber pitched five innings on July 1, his most recent start at Gwinnett, and his five relief appearances since then have included stints of two, two and 2 2/3 innings.
