Who can the Braves count on besides Max Fried?

Max Fried had another nice outing Saturday night, further cementing himself as the Braves lone bankable starter right now.

The Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 2-1 on Saturday night. Starter Max Fried did not get the decision, but he did have a strong outing (6.1 innings shutout innings, four hits allowed, seven strikeouts, three walks). His ERA is now 1.24 for the season, over five starts (29 innings) with a 0.90 WHIP and 28:9 K/B ratio.

The Braves’ starting rotation looked like strength entering the season. But Mike Foltynewicz struggled so much in his first start that he was designated for assignment, and Mike Soroka suffered a torn right Achilles early this month. Free agent signing Cole Hamels (tricep tendinitis) has yet to pitch this season, and he won’t until September if at all.

Sean Newcomb posted an 11.20 ERA in his first four starts (13.2 innings) before being sent to the Braves’ alternate training site last week. Felix Hernandez, shell of his former self as he is, opted out the 2020 season before throwing a pitch for the Braves to start the thinning of the rotation depth.

Braves are exploring all options to fill rotation after Max Fried

Touki Toussaint has made three starts since Aug. 1, with a 7.27 ERA in four total appearance so far. A rough season debut in relief (six runs allowed in 2.2 innings) inflates that ERA, but the Braves need better from one of their young pitchers.

Touted prospect Kyle Wright has a 7.20 ERA over four starts thus far, with 12 strikeouts and 16 walks over 15 innings. Friday night against Miami, he walked six and threw just 29 of 65 pitches for strikes.

Robbie Erlin was claimed of waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 7. He has made one appearance out of the bullpen for the Braves, allowing four runs (three home runs) in 2.2 innings, but he will get a start Sunday against the Marlins.

Top prospect Ian Anderson lingers as an option to start for the Braves. Former Indian Josh Tomlin has a 1.59 ERA over eight relief appearances so far, after pitching well (3.74 ERA) mostly out of the Braves bullpen in 2019, so he has to be on the list of options too.

The Braves should be in the market for a starting pitcher ahead of the Aug. 31 trade deadline. It really depends on what teams are ready to sell, who might be available (Johnny Cueto?) and the cost to get a deal done.

For now at least, it’s Max Fried and cross your fingers for Braves manager Brian Snitker as he tries to piece together some semblance of a starting rotation.