Fort Myers, Florida (AP) — Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said Monday that he was considering all options, including six rotations and openers, when looking for answers in the first rotation.
The Braves, who will play the season at home on April 7 against Cincinnati, will play consecutively 14 days before the first off day. Snicker said he could add a sixth starter during that stretch. He evaluates a group of five pitchers competing for the last two spots in rotation.
“We will use all of these people,” Snicker said. “We will need them all.”
He said it was “always possible” to use the team’s deep bullpen relief as an opener. There are candidates to do that even in the right circumstances. Last year we showed that we would probably use it to get everything done. “
The starting rotation is the only area that remains untouched. Recent movements in the list By Alex Anthopoulos, general manager, including the deal of first baseman Matt Olson.
Charlie Morton, Max Fried and Ian Anderson are at the top of the rotation, but Morton is back from his broken leg when he defeated Houston in Game 1 of the Atlanta World Series. Morton is expected to be ready for the start of the season.
Before suffering from the two tears of the right Achilles tendon, Mike Soroka, the first day starter of 2020, is about to complete a difficult comeback and make it available later in the season.
Anthopoulous was busy and then exchanged for Olson Freddie Freeman failed to re-sign, Signed outfielders Eddie Rosario and Alex Dickerson, added two established rescuers, Closer Kenley Jansen And Collin McHugh.
Anthopoulos can still be added late in rotation. For now, Snicker is looking for starters from a group of five candidates: Huascar Ynoa, Kyle Wright, Touki Toussaint, Kyle Muller and Tucker Davidson.
Toussaint and Davidson each cast two innings in a 5-0 defeat to the Boston Red Sox on Monday. Toussaint started and allowed one run with four hits.
“Overall, he was good,” Snicker said of Tusan. “His stuff was good. He just has to keep fighting and work with it, and as you know, when he gets it right and does it He can do a really good job. “
Davidson hit the fourth side before allowing two runs on his fifth four hits.
Toussaint continues to look for elusive consistency in his career. He said responsibility was mechanics.
“Some things aren’t always up,” Toussaint said on Monday. “I worked on a few things this offseason and timed more and more.”
Inoa’s breakout, with an ERA of 4-2 at 3.02 in April and May in the first half of last season, showed the possibility of sticking to rotation. But 23-year-old Inoa wasn’t the same on his return after breaking his right (throwing) hand while punching the Doug Out Bench on May 16. He finished 4-6 with 4.05 ERA.
“It feels good,” Inoa said through the Braves translator Franco Garcia. “All I’m thinking about is doing my best and trying my best to win one of these two spots.”
When the lockout delayed spring training and he spent less time preparing for the season at the Braves camp, Inoa said he continued his work in his native Dominican Republic on schedule.
“I’ve been exercising and coordinating in the Dominican Republic all the time,” Inoa said.
Left-handed 6’7 Mueller made his encouraging spring debut when he allowed one hit in two scoreless innings with a 5-1 victory over Philadelphia on Sunday.
“I love it,” said Mueller at the Rotation Tournament. “I think that’s what drives everyone in this organization to be better. There are so many good weapons that are really, really talented.”
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