It’s easy to forget that Matt Wisler is a kid who’s closer to high school age than to age 30. It’s also easy to forget he simply was a name Braves fans could get excited about in early June.
Since he was called up June 19, the 22-year-old is 4-1 with a 3.60 ERA in six starts. His fastball rarely tops 94 mph. His slider is on its way to becoming a top-level pitch, but it’s not there yet.
He isn’t a strikeout guru, fanning only 23 in his 35 innings. His pitch-to-contact style leaves him susceptible to hits, with 37 allowed so far.
It has to be something absent from the stat sheet that makes him effective, then.
“He gives you the impression that he’s got more maturity in him than — he’s a rookie, really less than a rookie. … He has a mound presence to him, he has a composure that when stuff happens he doesn’t give in,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said Tuesday.
“Yesterday he really pitched with one pitch for five innings — his fastball. His breaking ball didn’t come out until the sixth inning. But there’s something else about him that gives him an edge or gives him a little extra that you don’t think he’s a rookie. And I think the way he composes himself around the four days that he doesn’t pitch. When he gets on the mound there’s a presence there.”
Wisler said he’s starting to settle into what’s become a regular gig in the big leagues.
“I feel good up here. I feel good with my stuff right now,” he said. “You know, working with (pitching coach) Roger (McDowell) and everything. The defense has been great up here, so starting to feel (like) part of the team.”
He has a place in between Gwinnett and Atlanta, so transitioning back to the minor leagues would at least be easy in terms of his living situation. But he’s confident he won’t be a G-Brave again.
“I feel like as long as I keep going out there and performing the way I know I can, I think I’ll stay up here. I’m not really worried about that,” he said.
“The main thing I’m worried about is getting better every day and hopefully making my next start up here. Keep giving these guys the best chance to win.”
Wisler already has beaten a couple of big-name pitchers: Jacob deGrom in his debut and Doug Fister on the second time around.
Next up: July 26 in St. Louis against NL Cy Young contender Michael Wacha (11-3, 3.20 ERA).
If he beats Wacha he’ll be 4-0 in July, a month that’s been mostly kind to the Braves’ starting rotation. Entering Wednesday’s game, Wisler was 3-0 with a 3.52 ERA in July and Shelby Miller had a 3.12 ERA despite going 0-2. (Braves’ bats haven’t been nearly as kind to him as the month.) Manny Banuelos was 1-1 with a 1.08 ERA and Julio Teheran was 1-0 with a 2.41 ERA.
Alex Wood has labored through three of his four July starts, compiling a 6.87 ERA. He did, however, improve to 2-1 this month by beating the Dodgers on Tuesday. His pitched 6 2/3 innings in that game, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out three.
