Since the debacle that was Bartolo Colon’s last start, Braves pitchers have turned in four consecutive stellar performances leading into Saturday’s doubleheader against the Mets, which will feature the debut of hard-throwing prospect Sean Newcomb making his major league debut with a start in Game 1.
Julio Teheran allowed four hits, one run and three walks in six innings of Friday’s 3-2 win against the Mets, and his was the briefest of the past four starts by Braves pitchers since Colon got rocked for eight runs in 3 2/3 innings against the Phillies on Monday.
Colon went on the disabled list the following day with what the team called a left oblique strain.
In the four games since his shellacking, Braves starters posted a 1.63 ERA and .194 opponents’ average, allowing just five earned runs and 19 hits in 27 2/3 innings.
Jaime Garcia began the run of strong starts by limiting the Phillies to eight hits and three runs in 7 2/3 innings of a 3-1 loss Tuesday, and on Wednesday the Braves started a three-game winning streak when Mike Foltynewicz worked seven scoreless innings against the Phillies, limiting them to four hits and two walks in a 14-1 Braves rout.
R.A. Dickey followed with his best start of the season Thursday when he held the Phillies to three hits and one run with no walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings of a 3-1 Braves win. Then Teheran had his second impressive outing in a row at SunTrust Park, where he’s allowed one run in 12 innings over his past two starts after posting a majors-worst 10.50 ERA in his first five home starts.
In Saturday’s doubleheader, Newcomb makes his debut after going 3-3 with a 2.97 ERA in 11 starts at Triple-A Gwinnett, with 74 strikeouts and 33 walks 57 2/3 innings.
Newcomb faces Mets right-hander Robert Gsellman in the 1:05 p.m. game, followed by Matt Wisler making his first major league start this season when he faces lefty Steven Matz in the scheduled 6:05 p.m. game. It’ll be Matz’s season debut and just the sixth lefty starter the Braves have faced all season.
