The Braves have two off days over the next five days, and flexibility with their rotation, but they elected not to skip rookie fifth starter David Hale, who will make his scheduled start Saturday against the Reds.
That means both Aaron Harang and Alex Wood will be pitching on six days’ rest next week against the Marlins in Miami.
“Wood, he’s been your workhorse,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who pointed out that Wood has pitched eight innings in each of his past two starts. “I don’t mind giving those guys a breather.”
It also lines up Wood and Marlins ace Jose Fernandez to face each other again on Tuesday in Miami.
The two young pitchers put on quite a show Tuesday night at Turner Field, combining for 25 strikeouts in a 1-0 win by Fernandez and the Marlins. Wood had a career-high 11 strikeouts. Fernandez matched his career high with 14.
They become the first starting duo under the age of 24 to have double-digit strikeout totals against each other since 1901, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. A 22-year-old named Noodles Hahn struck out 11 for the Reds against Cubs’ 22-year old Long Tom Hughes, who struck out 15 on July 31, 1901.
Gonzalez said this early in the season when pitchers are still building up their arm strength and increasing their pitch counts, he doesn’t mind giving them extra rest.
“Especially early on and these guys are getting a pretty good workload,” Gonzalez said. “I think (Julio) Teheran every time he’s gone out there he has been eight, or nine. And same thing with (Ervin) Santana.”
The extra days off means Teheran will make each of his next two starts on five days’ rest. And when Santana pitches Friday against the Reds, he will have made his second straight start on five days’ rest.
Hale has continued to do quality work on the mound, with a 2.93 ERA over three starts, though the Braves have lost his last two. A Dan Uggla error cost him the lead Sunday against the Mets after Hale gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings. The Braves lost 4-3 in 14 innings.
Note: Gavin Floyd is scheduled to pitch Thursday for Triple-AAA Gwinnett in Columbus. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said Floyd would make two more minor league rehabilitation starts, including Thursday, and then the Braves would evaluable if he’s ready to make his return from Tommy John surgery. May 7 is his year anniversary of the ligament transfer operation. Floyd is 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA over 13 2/3 innings through his first four outings of his minor league rehabilitation.
