The Braves had been employing a pseudo-six-man rotation through much of the season without labeling it such. The strategy saved innings for their starters, but as the list of candidates dwindles, the team appears comfortable committing to five starters.
Sean Newcomb will start Sunday’s game against the Brewers on normal rest, a rarer occurrence with the Braves’ propensity for pitching him with an additional day. Manager Brian Snitker said that will become more the norm.
The Braves’ rotation management has kept their innings at a manageable rate. It’s decreased the potential workload of Newcomb and Mike Foltynewicz, and now allows them to re-implement a regular routine.
“In doing that coming up to this spot, I think they’re all in good shape,” Snitker said. “Nobody’s been overused or whatnot. So doing that to get to this point, probably a pretty good shake with all of those guys staying on regular rest for a while.”
Once plush with depth, the Braves have seen their rotation options shrink. They traded the familiar spot-start duo of Lucas Sims and Matt Wisler to Cincinnati in the Adam Duvall deal. Max Fried suffered a left-groin strain Tuesday, while Luiz Gohara has battled shoulder soreness. Mike Soroka and Brandon McCarthy are unlikely to pitch again this season.
The Braves don’t have a timetable for Fried, but realistically he won’t return until late August, at the earliest. With Gohara’s recurring injuries and fluctuating results, Fried was the lefty more likely to warrant a larger role down the stretch.
But Snitker no longer has a cupboard of arms from which to choose. He’ll work in extra-rest days when possible, especially with the team having only three off days remaining, but it has to make sense for the team and the spot-starter.
His regular rotation will consist of Newcomb, Foltynewicz, Julio Teheran, Anibal Sanchez and newcomer Kevin Gausman.
“It’s not anything we haven’t done before,” Snitker said. “The extra-day-rest thing is new. The numbers, it’s good. You look at the results on it, and it’s really good. I get it. But there may be some times when you’re not afforded that luxury. And it is a luxury, you talk about depth, having the guys to do it.”
Even so, a sixth starter is inevitable with a doubleheader looming Monday against the Marlins at SunTrust Park. Touki Toussaint, the latest fast-riser in the organization’s system, would be a logical promotion.
Toussaint, 22, is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. The team could scratch him and get him ready for Monday, though that would disrupt his schedule.
The Braves could also give Kolby Allard another look, despite his rough four-run relief outing Tuesday. The 20-year-old would be on schedule Monday, and make his second start against the same team he opposed in his first.
