Braves’ starting rotation gets big boost with star coming off IL

The Atlanta Braves will see Kyle Wright make his season debut vs. the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

Kyle Wright’s return to the Atlanta Braves‘ starting rotation could not have come at a better time.

Although the Braves are 7-4 on the young season, they have been bitten bad by the injury bug in recent weeks. While the plan all along was for Wright to spend a few weeks in the minors to rehab his injury, Atlanta did not count on ace Max Fried pulling his hamstring covering the first base bag on Opening Day. It has been a lot of Jared Shuster and Dylan Dodd over the last few Braves series.

Atlanta made it official by recalling Wright on Tuesday morning. The Braves are sending the southpaw Dodd back down to Triple-A after he got absolutely rocked vs. the San Diego Padres on Sunday Night Baseball.

Given that Wright is coming off a season in which he won a major-league best 21 games, it should be no surprise that Braves Country is expecting big things out of Wright once again this year.

Kyle Wright to make Atlanta Braves season debut Tuesday vs. Cincinnati Reds

Last season was fantastic for Wright who finally put it all together. He was a top pick coming out of Vanderbilt, but never really had consistent success at the big-league level until last year. In theory, he has the arm talent to be the Braves’ future ace if general manager Alex Anthopoulos decides he doesn’t want to extend Fried long-term. Of course, investing money in pitchers is risky.

The good news for Wright is he will be toeing the rubber the day after the Braves walked off on Cincinnati to end a three-game skid. Cincinnati is still rebuilding and the Braves have some momentum heading into Game 2 of the series. Unfortunately, hours after Wright was recalled, another Braves pitcher’s season ends. Right-hander Ian Anderson will need Tommy John surgery.

Fortunately, the Braves do have depth in the rotation. Dodd may have struggled in his second Braves start, but Bryce Elder has been a revelation over the last two seasons. And what could be in store for Atlanta is a much-anticipated Michael Soroka return. He has pitched well at Triple-A Gwinnett. Soroka has not pitched for Atlanta at the big-league since tearing his Achilles in 2020.

Ultimately, as long as Wright pitches well, Spencer Strider progresses in year two, Charlie Morton doesn’t fall off a cliff physically and Fried’s hamstring issue doesn’t ruin his season, the Braves should be in good shape from a starting rotation standpoint. They need to get Collin McHugh and Raisel Iglesias back in the bullpen to be at full strength, but that Atlanta offense can cook, dawg.

Look for Wright to provide a spark off the rubber every fifth day for the Braves in their rotation.