Braves rotation will be the key in 2017

For years, the Atlanta Braves’ success was built around starting pitching. A team once known for offense changed its course about 30 years ago, and the results were beyond one’s imagination.

No one would have ever believed three Braves pitchers not named Phil Niekro would make the Hall of Fame. That’s what happened, however, as Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz are all in Cooperstown.

If the Braves are to get back on track, they must do it with pitching. While there’s no guarantee they’ll ever develop three Hall of Famers again, the goal is to have a constant stream of pitchers from the farm system.

Last winter, the Braves were in a tight spot. They have built up the best minor league system in the game with pitchers, but the special prospects are still a year or so away. So, to win this season, the Braves had to bring in veterans to bridge the gap.

That’s why Bartolo Colon and R.A. Dickey were signed and why Jaime Garcia was acquired from the Cardinals. They join Julio Teheran and Mike Foltynewicz in Atlanta’s rotation.

Can this rotation keep the Braves in the race this season? Or will the veterans, particularly 43-year-old Colon and the 42-year-old Dickey, finally run out of gas?

Stability is a key. Last season after the All-Star Break, the Braves went 37-35 and used 13 different starting pitchers. Remember the 20-10 record in the final 30 games? Well, they used nine different starters in that stretch.

It might be unrealistic to believe both Colon and Dickey will have good seasons. They’ve got to give out at some point. Garcia has been one of the best stories of camp, as he is healthy and seems ready to have a good season in his free agent year.

Teheran has pitched well since returning from the World Baseball Classic. Foltynewicz has been the talk of spring training, with an ERA of 2.66 in his six starts. The Braves believe ‘Folty’ is ready to break out as a star pitcher.

The wildcard is the potential contribution from a young pitcher or two later this season. Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair and Lucas Sims will be in the Triple-A Gwinnett rotation. Wisler and Blair were top-rated pitching prospects when acquired in trades, but they’ve combined for an ERA of 5.44 in 62 games in Atlanta. Will more time in the minors straighten them out?

Then there’s Max Fried, one of Atlanta’s top prospects. The 23-year-old lefty was tremendous late last season in Low-A Rome. The Braves will push Fried to Double-A this year, and after an impressive spring training, Fried is now on the radar for a potential late-season debut in the majors.

A year from now, after Colon and Garcia have left as free agents, these young pitchers will have an opportunity to break into the rotation. But don’t be shocked if they push for starts this season, which will only give the Braves options to trade one of the veterans to fill another need.

There are other prospects, many more in the lower levels of the minor leagues. The Braves will closely evaluate them this season to determine which ones could be in line for Atlanta in the next two years. It’s that depth that could propel the Braves back into being a consistent winner.

The Braves used pitching once before to become a winner, and we’re close to seeing the fruits of their labor in this latest rebuilding project. The veterans must first get the team through this season.

This story was originally published March 28, 2017 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Braves rotation will be the key in 2017."