Before the Braves played the Marlins on Tuesday, lefty Eric Stults said one of his goals was to go deeper in the game on Wednesday after he pitched five innings in his debut with the team.
That task became even more important when Braves starter Trevor Cahill lasted just 2 1/3 innings against the Marlins on Tuesday.
Stults threw 86 pitches against the Mets in his first start while allowing seven hits and three runs. He said he accomplished his main goal of giving the Braves a chance to win—he got no decision as they beat the Mets 5-3—and is looking to do the same while going longer against the Marlins on Wednesday.
“It’s always touch-and-go the first two, three four starts,” Stults said. “You don’t have the stamina. You tend to see pitchers fade as they get to the 75-, 100-pitch range. It usually takes a few outings to kind of build up and maintain your stuff through that range. For me, it’s continue every outing to build that up and hopefully get in that six, seven and even eight inning range.”
The Braves signed Stults, 35, in January. He went to spring training as a candidate to be the No. 5 starter but ended up fourth in the rotation after a strong showing there and with lefty Mike Minor out with shoulder pain.
