An emotional six months has led Luiz Gohara to his first start of the 2018 season.
Gohara’s father died in his arms in December. His mother is battling an illness in Brazil, where Gohara will join her after his outing Wednesday.
The 21-year-old lefty entered spring training the favorite for the Braves’ fifth starter job. But he didn’t take the mound once in Florida, stalled by groin and ankle injuries.
Gohara wasn’t activated until late April. He made four minor-league rehab starts, posting an unimpressive 6.89 ERA (12 earned runs in 15-2/3 innings).
He was promoted at the beginning of the Braves’ last road trip in Tampa Bay. Gohara has made three appearances out of the bullpen, striking out 10 and allowing two hits in seven innings.
“The three games I threw out of the bullpen helped me get back into the rotation again and show them I’m ready to go and be in the rotation the rest of the year,” Gohara said. “Like I said a couple days ago, I’m helping the team. Whatever they need, I’ll be there and ready to pitch.”
The Braves have been reluctant to officially declare Gohara the starter Wednesday, suggesting their plans could change if he was needed in long-relief.
But Gohara told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday he was unavailable in relief (presumably barring emergency) and was fully preparing to make his first start against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Gohara will go on the bereavement list following his start so he can visit his mother. He can be on the list for three-to-seven days and the Braves can fill replace him with a player on their 40-man roster, according to MLB rules.
“It’s a good opportunity to get him stretched back out,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Every time he’s been out it’s kind of kicked up a tick. We needed a starter for tomorrow, so it’s a good opportunity to get him out there and stretched out again.”
While Gohara expressed hope he would remain in the rotation, the situation is murky. Julio Teheran, Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb and Brandon McCarthy make up the first four, when healthy. Soroka, Sanchez and Gohara are options to fill the fifth spot, though that’s unsettled given the trio’s fluid status.
The Braves like what Gohara has shown in the bullpen, but they could send him back to Triple-A Gwinnett to stay on a schedule. It appears unlikely the team will demote the 20-year-old Soroka when he returns.
“The rotation, the bullpen; wherever they need me to pitch, I can be there,” Gohara said.
Even if the Braves opt to send Gohara to Triple-A, inevitable injuries likely will plug him back into the rotation at some point. Snitker didn't rule out keeping Gohara in a relief role later in the season, but he reiterated the franchise views him as a starter long-term.
Gohara made five starts in September, teasing frontline starter potential with a confident mound presence and strikeout prowess. He struck out 31 in 29-1/3 innings.
“That’s the thing that impressed us when he came up last year,” Snitker said of Gohara’s aptness for throwing strikes. “No. 1 was the quality of his stuff, how electric it was, and he’s a big guy with a strike zone. He has the ability to throw it over.”
As for Snitker’s expectations for Wednesday, he didn’t hesitate.
“Throw a no-hitter,” he said jokingly. If Gohara desires a chance to force his way back into the rotation, quieting the potentially first-place Phillies in Philadelphia would be an emphatic way to start.
