Matt Wisler still has a lot to prove in the majors, but the Braves right-hander showed he has enough talent to hold his own in a duel with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.
Wisler allowed one unearned run over 6 2/3 innings against the Dodgers on Thursday and left with a tie score against Kershaw, a three-time NL Cy Young winner and one-time MVP. The Braves went on to lose 2-1 in 10 innings but Wisler gave them a chance to win.
“It’s exciting,” Wisler said. “Coming into the game, I knew I had to pitch well today for the guys and keep them in the game. That’s all you can really ask for. I felt good out there.”
Wisler limited the Dodgers to four hits and struck out seven. Their only run against him came on Joc Pederson’s two-out RBI single in the first inning, after Corey Seager had reached on an error by third baseman Adonis Garcia.
It was the best outing in what’s been a strong start to the season for Wisler, who has built on his promising rookie season in 2015. In four games (three starts) this season Wisler has a 3.10 ERA with 15 hits allowed, 16 strikeouts and four walks over 20 1/3 innings.
“This year, so far, I’ve had a better mental attitude on the field, competing every pitch and not giving in to certain situations,” Wisler said. “Having a little more confidence in myself and the pitches I’m throwing and just having a better game plan.”
After getting out of the first inning, Wisler retired the next six batters until No. 3 hitter Adrian Gonzalez led off the fourth inning with a single and Pederson followed with another single. Wisler retired the next three batters to end the threat.
Wisler pitched a perfect fifth inning and stranded two base runners in the sixth. He was up to 101 pitches at that point, but manager Fredi Gonzalez sent him out for the seventh inning.
“It showed some confidence in me to let me do that,” Wisler said.
A.J. Ellis led off the seventh by reaching on another Garcia error before Wisler got Charlie Culberson to ground into a double play. The inning should have ended on Kershaw’s fly ball to right field, but center fielder Mallex Smith crashed into Jeff Francoeur and the ball dropped.
Wisler walked the next batter, Chase Utley, prompting Gonzalez to finally take the ball from him after he’d thrown a career-high 115 pitches. Gonzalez said Wisler matched Kershaw “pitch-for-pitch.”
“I hope it’s a big step,” Gonzalez said. “He’s been getting better and better every time out. Sure, every once in a while he will take a step back like anybody else. But I’m really proud of the young man’s development.”
The Braves acquired Wisler as part of a trade with the Padres on the eve of the 2015 season. He made his big-league debut last June and had mixed results until closing with a 2.34 ERA over his final five starts with 34 2/3 innings pitched.
