The day after Gavin Floyd pitched seven strong innings, allowing only one run, in his first start back from Tommy John surgery, the Braves weren’t prepared to map out exactly how he’ll fit into the rotation going forward.
But manager Fredi Gonzalez did indicate that Floyd would, in fact, stay in the Braves rotation. And that doesn’t mean that they’ll go to a six-man rotation. It means that someone else will be coming out.
“I don’t want to go six-man rotation,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t think it works. I don’t think it’s good. But (Floyd) is one guy that would not go to the bullpen, I don’t think, just because of the Tommy John. We all know how the bullpen thing is. You get up. You get down. You go in. You got to warm up in 15 (pitches), and I don’t want to do that to him.”
Floyd pitched every fifth day during his minor league rehabilitation schedule and the Braves want to keep him on a regular, regimented schedule.
As for who the Braves plan to move to the bullpen, Gonzalez didn’t divulge.
“Maybe coming off the off day tomorrow we’ll readjust, reconvene, talk and see where we’re at, but right now we have no plans,” Gonzalez said.
Floyd started Tuesday night in place of Ervin Santana, who skipped a start to nurse a jammed right thumb. Santana is ready to pitch again and slated to start Saturday against the Cubs. The Braves have penciled in Julio Teheran to pitch Friday and Alex Wood on Sunday in the weekend series.
Wood seems the most likely candidate among the rest of the starters to move to the bullpen - over Santana, Teheran, Mike Minor, and veteran Aaron Harang. It would give the Braves an easy way to limit his innings in his first full major league season and also give them another left-hander in relief.
Wood went 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 20 relief appearances last season. The Braves would have him available if they need a spot start or if there’s an injury to someone in the rotation.
