Atlanta Braves Rumors: Rotation outlook, Freddie Freeman’s return, a wasted trade fit
By Mark Powell
Braves Rumors: What did we learn about the starting rotation?
Perhaps a trade can wait to fix the Atlanta Braves rotation, and Alex Anthopoulos is thankful that’s the case.
Jared Shuster won his first major-league start over the weekend. Alicia de Artola wrote about the prospect’s steady improvement from what’s been a tough start to the season:
"“In his first three starts, Shuster was 0-2 with an ERA of 7.24. However, his most two recent starts have shown real promise. In a 7-4 loss for the Braves on May 16, he went five innings giving up three hits and three runs…Atlanta topped the Mariner’s 3-2 as Shuster ralled from giving up a second-inning home run to Jarred Kelenic. He left the game after the sixth inning with a 3-1 lead. Despite a Jose Caballero home run in the top of the eighth, the Braves bullpen held on for the win.”"
The difference between early-season Shuster, who was shot out of a cannon in many ways, and now is a stint in Triple-A. The rookie credited that time with honing his craft, and learning to trust his teammates.
“I’m just trying my stuff and trusting my catchers and trusting everyone behind me,” Shuster said. “In Triple-A, we work on some things and try to get right. I’m much more comfortable now.”
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud noticed the same thing, as Shuster bounces back quickly from mistakes, rather than letting it get to him.
“He seemed much more calm,” d’Arnaud said. “Regardless of whether he made a pitch or made a mistake, he tried to stay even-keeled the whole time.”
Shuster is using his secondary pitches far more often in these past two starts, including his changeup and slider, than he did in spring training and to begin the year. It’s a lesson most young pitchers learn when they come to the bigs — blowing away the competition isn’t an option in the major leagues.
With Shuster’s emergence, expect the Braves to use less bullpen games moving forward, which should please a fanbase tired of that approach.