Braves make a shocking decision for fifth starter role

Braves Spring Training has largely been focused on who will be the fifth starter in the rotation, but their decision on Tuesday was quite the surprise. 

While the goal of Spring Training is always to get players back in their groove and playing well before Opening Day, there are often position battles at play. That was definitely the case when the Atlanta Braves went a few hundred miles south to the Grapefruit League this spring. Namely, the focus was on who would take the fifth starter role in the rotation.

The expectation for the Braves was that a returning Michael Soroka and a bouncing-back Ian Anderson would be the leading contenders to be the fifth starter and perhaps Bryce Elder could sneak into the mix. Instead, Soroka has been dealing with a hamstring injury for most of the spring, thus taking him largely out of the mix. But then came Tuesday’s bombshell.

As reported by David O’Brien of The Athletic, Atlanta has optioned both Anderson and Elder to Triple-A, meaning that prospects Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd will be left to compete for the rest of the spring to take the fifth starting pitcher spot.

Braves news: Jared Shuster, Dylan Dodd now competing for fifth starter role

Now, the reasoning behind this shocking decision is one that should excite Braves fans. As O’Brien put it and as the stats tell, Shuster and Dodd have simply been better when on the bump so far this spring.

Over 7.1 innings this spring, Anderson posted a 6.14 ERA with a 1.77 WHIP while Elder had a 6.17 ERA with a 1.e7 WHIP over 11.2 innings. Meanwhile, Shuster — the Braves top prospect entering 2023 — has a 1.04 ERA and 0.35 WHIP with nine strikeouts in 8.2 innings and Dodd (No. 10 in the farm system) has a perfect 0.00 ERA with a 0.60 WHIP over 8.1 innings pitched with a team-high 11 strikeouts this spring.

The pair of 24-year-old southpaws have been impressive and have earned this shot. However, it doesn’t mean the last of Elder or Anderson (or Soroka once healthy). O’Brien also noted that with injuries likely to put Huascar Ynoa, Tyler Matzek and Kolby Allard on the IL to start the year, any of that group could be recalled without any wait. So that’s still on the table.

It’s definitely a surprise to see Shuster and Dodd as the last two standing in the battle for the fifth starter in Atlanta, but it’s a good sign for the Braves that the two prospects have earned their spot and will continue doing so with whoever takes the job in the end.