The Braves could have another quality starter available before much longer, as Luiz Gohara is set to make his first injury-rehab start for Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.
The highly regarded rookie left-hander, who’s been on the disabled list recovering from an ankle sprain sustained during through spring training, is on a schedule to be ready to pitch in the majors at some point in early May.
Gohara will pitch four innings or 65 pitches in his first rehab start, Braves manager Brian Snitker said. So far he’s pitched only in simulated games or extended-spring training games in Florida, where he’s been rehabbing since camp ended.
The Braves will have him make at least a few rehab starts and build to 95-100 pitches before he’s ready.
Gohara was penciled in the opening-day rotation before spring training, following his impressive five-start audition during a September call-up. But the heavy lefty strained his groin in the first week of camp, then sprained his ankle two days before his first scheduled Grapefruit League start.
Snitker said there is no plan in place to bump anyone from the current rotation to make room for Gohara when he’s ready, pointing out that these situations often sort themselves out – a pitcher struggles, an injury, etc.
“If nothing happens, and we have too much pitching, that’s a great problem to have,” Snitker said.
Late-spring addition Anibal Sanchez has pitched well, the veteran pitching six scoreless innings in a win Friday against the Cubs to move to 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three games including two starts since moving into the rotation.
