The Atlanta Braves have always been know for having plenty of pitching scattered in the professional level and in their farm system. This time, they will clog their pitching rotation with six starters as their ace Tommy Hanson gets ready to come off of the disabled list.
Forming the Braves' new-look rotation is Hanson, Tim Hudson, Paul Maholm, Kris Medlen, Mike Minor and Ben Sheets.
Hanson, who was on the DL, was the Braves' best pitcher down the stretch. He is 12-5 with a 4.29 ERA in 22 starts. Before his injury, he was coming off a stretch where the Braves won 10-11 games he pitched. During the stretch he went 7-1.
Hudson joined the team late after having back surgery over the break. He is 11-4 with a 3.77 ERA. He is currently on a seven-game streak without losing a start and the Braves are 7-0 in those games.
Maholm, who the Braves traded for recently, made his second start for his new team against the New York Mets and he pitched a gem. He gave up 3hits, struckout 5 and gave up no walks. He is now 1-1 with a 1.69 ERA with the Braves in two starts.
Kris Medlen has been one of the young pitchers whose career has suffered the most as a Brave because he is constantly sent down to make space for pitchers and players. In his three starts this season he has not allowed more than a run in each ballgame. He has a 3-1 record with a 2.28 ERA. The kid has the stuff to be a starter, but with a pitching rotation packed with talent, he has been relegated to a bullpen role.
Mike Minor has been a product of trade talks since before 2012 Spring Training started. Minor said he wanted a trade if he did not make it to the starting rotation at the beginning of the season. Well, he was named a starter, though not possessing starter stuff in a number of his starts. He is 6-8 with a 4.95 ERA. Inconsistancy has been his motto this season. He has pitched better as of late, so there is still hope for the starter.
Minor gets the nod on Monday against the San Diego Padres.
The latest surprise for the Braves has been Ben Sheets. He is making a comeback to the majors and proving that he can still get professional hitters out. Sheets, who has owned the Braves in his career, has made six starts for the team. He is 4-2 with a 2.13 ERA in those starts.
The Braves have a good mixture of veteran arms and young pitchers. It will be interesting to see how the six-man rotation helps or hinders theteam from grabbing the first place spot in the NL East.
