WASHINGTON – The Braves will keep their starting rotation in order after Thursday's day off and likely do the same after a Sept. 18 day off, rather than skip someone's turn and have their hottest pitchers start a day sooner.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said at this point of the long season the extra rest would benefit some pitchers who are at or approaching career-highs for innings. He specifically cited Julio Teheran, who has pitched 201 innings in 30 starts (tied for the National League lead in starts before Wednesday) after a career-high 185 2/3 innings in 30 starts in 2013.
Teheran will start Saturday in the second game of a series against the Rangers at Texas.
“He’s four more starts, so he could be in the 220s (innings),” Gonzalez said. “That’s a lot, from 185 the year before.”
Alex Wood, scheduled to start Friday’s series opener at Texas, has pitched 152 innings in 32 games (21 starts) in his first full season in the majors. He’s on pace for 170-180, right about where the Braves wanted to keep him during the regular season.
Mike Minor will start Sunday’s series finale. The Rangers plan to start left-hander Derek Holland on Friday and right-handers Scott Baker on Saturday and Colby Lewis on Sunday.
