Injuries have crept to the doorstep of the Atlanta Braves recently, including the shocking loss of a key starting pitcher. But here is how the Braves must replace Spencer Schwellenbach in the rotation after his elbow injury.
There’s still some hope that Schwellenbach won’t miss the entire season. Manager Walt Weiss said he hopes it is bone spurs, according to ESPN.
“I feel for Spencer more than anything else,” Weiss said. “The kid has done some amazing things in a short time, and still has a bright future ahead of him. But I'm sure it's tough for him.”
Braves need to find another arm
All of a sudden, free agent Walker Buehler is looking better than he did before the Schwellenbach setback. If the Braves are serious about competing in the NL East, they must make a move to add another arm.
An eight-year veteran, Buehler hasn’t been able to bounce back from injuries to his old self. Last year, he started 22 games for Boston. But his 5.45 ERA, 7-7 record, and -0.9 WAR showed his inefficiencies.
Right now, the Braves will move into the season with a rotation headed by Chris Sale and Spencer Strider. That’s followed by Reynaldo Lopez and Grant Holmes. Hurston Waldrep appeared ticketed for the minors before the Schwellenbach injury. But now he could open the year as the No. 5 guy.
The 23-year-old Waldrep went 6-1 in 10 starts last season. He struck out 55 batters in 56.1 innings. So there is a reason to think he could carry some of the load, especially as a down-the-rotation guy.
Fortunately, the Braves have that option. But losing Schwellenbach takes a potentially elite arm out of the rotation. And it makes the overall depth thinner.
Another problem with the injury is that it seems to push the Braves' mindset back into a bit of a dark place. Injuries destroyed the team last year. And now, before they're out of the gates for spring training, they get this massive injury news.
Last year, Atlanta lost Schwellenbach, Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, and AJ Smith-Shawver to injuries for a significant portion of the season. The team went on to finish 76-86. They sank to fourth place in the NL East after seven consecutive years of finishing first or second.
Weiss said this injury just puts the Braves in a spot they knew they would face on some level.
“I always say before a season even starts, your pitching depth is going to get tested,” Weiss said. “It's inevitable. You'd rather not have it be right away in February. But we've got a lot of capable guys in there. They're going to get a look, and that's exciting.”
It doesn't Weiss' enthusiasm that the Braves have a solid everyday lineup. The team was ranked No. 8 in MLB before the Schwellenbach injury, according to ESPN.
“Atlanta will continue to look for pitching, but the bulk of its winter work is complete with the retention of Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop and the addition of closer Robert Suarez and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski,” Buster Olney wrote. “The big questions going into next season will revolve around the health of key players such as Chris Sale, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Austin Riley. But the Braves looked poised for a bounce-back season.”
And Acuna Jr. is getting good reviews so far, according to Sports Illustrated.
“When in top form, Acuna is a five-category stud, but his days of stealing 70 bags are probably over,” Shawn Childs wrote. “I still expect him to run. Over 16 games this winter, he went 19-for-53 with 13 runs, four home runs, 12 RBIs, and 11 steals while walking 16 times with six strikeouts. Let’s go: .300 with 125+ runs, 40 home runs, 100+ RBIs, and 30+ steals.”
That kind of season would help the Braves absorb the loss of Schwellenbach.
