The most disappointing development of the Braves season

The most unfortunate turn of events this season — and a primary reason why so many are concerned with the Braves’ rotation entering the playoffs — is the lack of contributions the club has received from its young starting pitching.

Entering the season, Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep, AJ Smith-Shawver, JR Ritchie, and Owen Murphy were all on the radar as potential significant pieces to the rotation. Schwellenbach entered Spring Training expected to be the #2, and Waldrep showed some real promise down the stretch last season. Both were injured about a month before the start of the season and combined to make just three appearances.

AJ Smith-Shawver finally made his return from Tommy John surgery in August but has been mostly erratic since rejoining the Braves, which is to be expected for someone who did not pitch for 14 months. There remains a lot of promise for his future, but as far as this season is concerned, he’s probably not someone the Braves are going to trust in big moments in October, even if he’s still in the conversation for the playoff roster.

JR Ritchie and Owen Murphy are two more pitchers who both look like they are a year away. Ritchie got the start last night for the Braves against the Cubs. It was his first appearance with the major-league club since August 2nd, and Chicago thrashed him for six earned runs over 4.2 innings. He’ll likely get another look before the season ends because he cannot be optioned anymore this year without having to clear waivers, but the Braves have seen enough to know he’s not quite ready for the big stage.

The only young arm that’s experienced success has been Didier Fuentes, blossoming into one of the best setup men in all of baseball. It’s impossible to say anything negative about the rookie campaign he’s put together. He’ll be an integral piece to the Braves next month, but it’s hard not to wonder what he might have been able to provide if the club had elected to stretch him out. A three-headed monster of Chris Sale, Didier Fuentes, and Tyler Mahle really doesn’t sound too shabby with the way they’ve performed of late.

When looking at the last five or six seasons, few organizations have been better at developing starting pitching than the Atlanta Braves. Seemingly every year at least one of their young arms flashes frontline potential. Unfortunately, keeping them healthy has been an entirely different story. Didier Fuentes is no consolation prize. In fact, he could be the best of the bunch when it’s all said and done, but given how the Braves operated in free agency — failing to acquire a single starting pitcher — it’s fair to assume they expected a ton more from their young starting pitching.

They essentially got nothing, and it’s left them with more questions than answers entering October.

—

(Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)