Predicting the Braves postseason rotation after Cole Hamels injury

It turns out the Braves aren’t getting pitching reinforcements in the form of Cole Hamels

Hamels took his $18 million to the bank in one large deposit and never looked back. While it’s certainly not his fault he missed the entire COVID-19 shortened season, a shoulder injury placed him right back on the injured list after he initially had fully recovered. Now, the already thin Braves starting rotation is down to reinforcements they never planned on using in the first place. But as is the case this year more than most, the healthiest team — perhaps not the best — will be left standing after the World Series.

Brian Snitker’s club will not give up hope, nor should they. Nothing is predictable in 2020.

Hamels ended up making just one start for the Braves. In a throwing session last week, Alex Anthopoulos realized they’d have to look elsewhere for another reliable arm come playoff time. “He said he felt like he just couldn’t get anything behind the ball,” Anthopoulos said.

Without Hamels, where will the Braves turn?

Hamels was expected to make three regular season starts to get him ready for October baseball. That didn’t happen, and Snitker acknowledged the Braves disappointment at this situation.

“You just kind of felt good about things and getting him a couple more starts,” Snitker said. “I just hate it for him. He worked so hard and put so much time in. I was excited to get him back out there a couple more times to see where we could get him before this season is over.”

Max Fried is the clear ace of this Braves staff. He’s in NL Cy Young contention for a reason. Beyond Fried, though, things get more complicated. Ian Anderson, once one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball, is the second-most reliable starter on the staff. Behind him might be Kyle Wright, who’s been anything but consistent in 2020.

Should a fourth starter be necessary, a bullpen game might be Snitker’s best option. That’s not as bleak as it sounds given some of the arms the Braves have available in the back end, including Mark Melancon and Shane Greene.