Call it a small sample size, but Alex Wood has made a bid to remain in the Atlanta Braves' starting rotation following his last two victories. On Sunday, he held the Philadelphia Phillies to a single run for one of his stronger outings of his brief MLB career. Should the Braves move Wood back down to the minors, keep him in the bullpen or let the rookie remain in the starting rotation?
Wood is 2-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 2013. Though he only recorded three strikeouts while walking two over six innings pitched, Wood dominated the Phillies allowing just two hits and an earned run. This is only his fourth start of the year, but Wood looks comfortable on the mound. After Sunday's performance, his 2013 totals are: 39.1 innings pitched, allowing 44 hits, nine earned runs, one home run, 13 walks, while striking out 41. His K/9 Ratio is still over nine despite Sunday's low strikeout performance.
The number that pops out aside from the strikeouts are Wood's innings pitched. The Braves' starters are third in baseball, totaling 686 innings pitched so far in 2013. Time and time again, we have seen their bullpen get taxed and burnt out late in the season; the last thing Atlanta needs is for their crumbling pitching staff to receive a huge workload as the Braves are eyeing their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 2004-2005.
Wood's arm is fresh, which would only benefit the Braves' starting staff. Mike Minor leads the team with 144 innings pitched, 134 strikeouts 11 wins and a 2.75 ERA, clearly establishing himself as the rotation's ace. Julio Teheran has stepped up amidst Kris Medlen's struggles this year. Though Tim Hudson is out, Paul Maholm is due back at any moment, meaning the Braves might have a tough time making space for Wood in the rotation.
Of course, Brandon Beachy is working his way back, but if he can't pitch well down the stretch, Wood might be the fifth guy in that rotation. Fredi Gonzalez will have options. Medlen can always be placed in the bullpen, providing a sold middle relief arm out of the bullpen. Having three lefties in a starting rotation would be odd, but Gonzalez has to stick with what's working and Wood has been doing his part to remain in the starting rotation.
If Wood can build on his last two starts where he's gone 13 innings, allowing just a total of four runs on eight hits, Gonzalez will have some serious pondering to do as the Braves will now look to lock up the N.L. East. If Wood shows no signs of slowing down, then the Braves should considering making him a regular part of their starting rotation.
