If Matt Wisler is going to be part of the Braves’ future, it will be in the bullpen.
The former Padres top prospect and once promising Braves starter has fallen behind the curve. In an effort to best find his niche, Wisler will begin working exclusively from the bullpen in Triple-A Gwinnett, according to Braves manager Brian Snitker.
“There’s been a number of starters over the past few years who went to the bullpen, and their stuff played up a tick,” Snitker said. “So we’ll see.”
In nine major league appearances this season, eight were out of the bullpen. Wisler’s lone start came June 10 against the Mets. He pitched six innings, giving up four runs. He’s worked as a starter in Triple-A.
Wisler made a relief appearance Wednesday night in Gwinnett, giving up a run and two hits in an inning. His minor league dominance and major league struggles make it hard to avoid the “AAAA player” label.
Wisler is 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA in his past seven starts with Gwinnett. That includes a complete-game shutout. He was among the International League leaders in lowest walks per nine innings ratio, ranking third at 1.85. His 3.67 ERA is 10th best in the league.
The majors haven’t been so kind. In Wisler’s last appearance in Arizona, he gave up four runs in two innings. He has an 8.53 ERA in 19 innings. He’s allowed three or more runs in three consecutive outings despite two coming out of the bullpen. Opponents have torched Wisler for 11 earned runs over his past 10 innings.
“He can throws strikes,” Snitker said. “It’s just the mindset, I think, of going out and letting her blow for one inning. See if there’s maybe a little more in the tank there than when he starts.”
Wisler’s had moments. One such came in Miami on April 17, 2016, which Snitker referenced as a reason to believe in Wisler’s potential as a reliever. Wisler closed out the Marlins for his first and only career save.
“That’s what everybody sees in trying this is that day (he threw in relief) in Miami last year,” Snitker said. “If he can replicate that. You can never have too many guys in the pen, so we’ll just see a few outings, see what happens.”
