LOS ANGELES – Off days in the Braves’ schedule before and after their weekend series against the Dodgers will make Julio Teheran’s stint on the 10-day disable list less of a disruption that it might’ve been otherwise, and so will having better fill-in options than the team had in recent years.
Teheran went on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday with a jammed right thumb, which occurred while he was batting in Monday’s game at San Diego. Sean Newcomb will start Sunday in what would’ve been Teheran’s next rotation turn, with Newcomb going on regular four days’ rest since the left-hander’s start Tuesday against he Padres. The Braves were off Thursday, effectively allowing them to skip Teheran’s spot in the rotation.
After another team day off Monday following their West Coast trip, Mike Foltynewicz will start Tuesday’s home opener against the Mets. The Braves haven’t decided who’ll start Wednesday but manager Brian Snitker mentioned rookies Mike Soroka and Max Fried as possibilities.
Soroka, who’s been on the 10-day disabled list since May 17 with a right-shoulder strain, has been sharp in two rehab starts, striking out seven with one walk, one earned run and three hits allowed in 4 1/3 innings Wednesday with Triple-A Gwinnett in his second rehab outing. Snitker has said Soroka might benefit from a third rehab start to get his pitch count up a bit more, but also said the Braves could instead have him make his next start back with the major league team Wednesday.
Another outside possibility is Kolby Allard, a top left-handed prospect who had a 2.14 ERA for Gwinnett before making his 11th start for the Triple-A affiliate Friday. Soroka, 20, is the youngest pitcher in the majors, and his pal Allard is also just 20.
“He’s an option at any point in time if it would fall when you needed somebody,” Snitker said. “It’s kind of nice to have options. We haven’t had that for a while. It’s a good thing.”
The earliest Teheran could return from the 10-day DL would be Friday (June 15). Snitker said that Teheran was doing better and would start throwing in the next day or two, but didn’t give a timetable for his return other than to acknowledge that next Friday would be a possibility.
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