Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said he’s open to pairing up catcher A.J. Pierzynski with starting pitcher Shelby Miller and doing the same with catcher Christian Bethancourt and pitcher Julio Teheran.
Miller has been working with Pierzynski since the two were teammates with the Cardinals in 2014. Miller joined the Braves via off-season trade and Pierzynski signed as a free agent.
“It seems to be working well,” Gonzalez said. “I hate to go on record and say that’s his personal catcher but something that if it continues to work well, then we will pursue it. I know there (also) have been some good starts when Julio and Bethancourt hook up. I am all for getting people in positions to be successful.”
Tuesday’s game was Miller’s ninth career start with Pierzynski behind the plate. Pierzynski caught six of his 31 starts with the Cardinals in 2014 and Miller posted a 4.29 ERA in those starts compared to a 3.57 ERA in 21 starts with catcher Yadier Molina and a 3.80 ERA in four starts and one relief appearance with Tony Cruz.
In Miller’s two starts with Pierzynski this season before Tuesday he posted a 1.64 ERA compared to his 2.50 ERA with in three starts with Bethancourt.
Teheran has made eight career starts with Bethancourt as the catcher and has posted a 2.23 ERA in those games, best among the seven catchers he’s worked with. Teheran has a 7.20 ERA in three starts with Pierzynski this season.
