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Atlanta Braves: Three storylines to watch in the second half

By Daniel Rasmussen

ATLANTA, GA JULY 14: Braves outfielders Ronald Acuna, Jr. (left), Ender Inciarte (center), and Nick Markakis (right) take a knee during a break in the action during the game between Atlanta and Arizona on July 14th, 2018 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, GA. The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves by a score of 3 0. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA JULY 14: Braves outfielders Ronald Acuna, Jr. (left), Ender Inciarte (center), and Nick Markakis (right) take a knee during a break in the action during the game between Atlanta and Arizona on July 14th, 2018 at SunTrust Park in Atlanta, GA. The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Atlanta Braves by a score of 3 0. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Julio Teheran's performance in 2018 gives some reason for concern about the back of Atlanta's rotation.
(Photo by David John Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Back End of the Starting Rotation

You couldn’t ask for more than what All-Star Mike Foltynewicz and lefty Sean Newcomb have had to offer this season. Per Fangraphs, the two young Braves’ arms are in the top 12 in starter’s ERA among National League pitchers this year, with Foltynewicz at 2.66 and Newcomb at 3.51.

Just as impressive is the veteran Anibal Sanchez, who has seemingly revitalized his career with a 2.60 ERA in 11 starts. The 34-year old has filled the role as the “steady presence” in a youthful rotation, hurling 6+ innings in 6 of his 11 starts to take some of the pressure of the often-used bullpen.

It’s after those three aforementioned starters that the rotation is filled with questions.

Perhaps the single biggest X-factor to Atlanta’s potential success in 2018 is Julio Teheran. Once the uncontested “ace” of the staff, Teheran has seen his performance take a dip in each of the last two seasons. In 2018, he’s walking well over 4 batters per nine innings while also having the highest home run to fly ball ratio of his career.

More 2014 or 2016-like numbers from Julio would be a tremendous shot in the arm for the back end of this Braves’ rotation, but will that happen?

For what figures to be the final spot of the rotation, there are a plethora of options, but also a plethora of inexperience and/or injury concerns.

Luiz Gohara or Max Fried seem primed to be the frontrunners as options to begin the second half as the fifth starter, but both lack the ideal experience to help a rotation make it to the postseason.

On the injury front, promising rookie Mike Soroka was named to the 60-day DL in late June and will be lucky to pitch again this season, while the oft-injured veteran Brandon McCarthy also was sent to the DL the last week of June for knee tendinitis. Fried has also seen injury concerns of his own, with a stint on the 10-day DL due to a blister.

True, the Braves could make a move for a starting pitcher before the trade deadline to stabilize the bottom of the rotation, but if they don’t, they most certainly need at least one or two of the options to show improvement and good health down the stretch to win the East.

Next: Ender's play

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