The Braves’ starting rotation was excellent throughout the spring. After an uninspiring first-time through to start the regular season, its rediscovering that form.
Julio Teheran, Mike Foltynewicz, Brandon McCarthy, Sean Newcomb and Anibal Sanchez are proving a fruitful starting five.
“I kind of feel like if those guys are pitching a majority of our innings, we’re going to be doing OK,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “And they’ve done a great job. Hopefully we can keep building off each and every one, and separately they build off what they’re doing.”
Teheran has allowed three runs over his past two starts (12 innings), including a one-run, six-inning outing in a win over the Phillies at SunTrust Park Monday, a locale that’s more often than not been the righty’s house of horrors.
“Last night was what the guy’s capable of,” Snitker said Tuesday. “He’s thrown well. He’s a really good pitcher, been good for a long time. I said he worked really hard this spring. I saw a really focused, determined guy in everything he did this spring. So hopefully yesterday was a sign of good things to come.”
Newcomb, after getting roughed up by the Nationals in his first appearance, pitched well at Coors Field and Wrigley Field against two of the National League’s better lineups.
Foltynewicz is riding a seven-start streak of allowing three or fewer earned runs, dating back to last August. He owns a 3.44 ERA while holding the opposition to a .237 average during that span.
Then there’s McCarthy and Sanchez, the steady veterans of the bunch.
McCarthy’s provided just what the rotation needed, even after departing after the fifth inning of his last start with a partially dislocated shoulder. It won’t cost him any time, however, and he’s scheduled to take the mound Wednesday.
Sanchez, a late-spring signee, has allowed two runs over his first two starts (11 innings). Even if he’s just a placeholder for Luiz Gohara or another one of the Braves’ plethora of young arms, they couldn’t have asked for much better production through his first pair of starts.
“I think they’re feeding off each other,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “We’ve got a couple guys who are taking the next step. Newcomb and Folty, they’ve been doing great. Brandon filling in. Obviously what Julio did yesterday was huge, and Anibal in Chicago. It’s been great. It makes it easier on us. We don’t have to get 10 runs every single game. They’ve been going out there and doing a great job for us.”
The rotation’s rebound is made even better by the bullpen’s performance. Even including the historic meltdown Saturday in Chicago, it’s been among the NL’s best units.
The bullpen has allowed one home run, best in the majors. Braves pitching collectively has served up 13 long balls, third fewest in the NL.
It’s making it easier to win, especially when the offense has produced 84 runs, second most in the senior circuit.
“The bullpen has been fantastic all year,” Freeman said. “You can just throw that one inning out. Really, it wasn’t all their fault with the weather. Our bullpen has been a big strong piece for our team this year and that’s why we’ve won a lot of games.”
With the rotation and bullpen coming together, the Braves boast MLB’s third-best ERA (3.27) and fourth-best batting average against (.224) through 15 games.
