Braves’ beat-up rotation shuts up haters with MLB-best mark in 13-game test

With players like Spencer Strider and Spencer Schwellenbach, amongst many more, opening the season on the injured list, the Atlanta Braves pitching rotation looked severely depleted. But so far, Atlanta’s healthy starters have more than kept the franchise afloat.

After their 8-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, the Braves now lead all of baseball with a collective 2.03 ERA, via Jason Foster of MLB.com. Grant Holmes was on the bump for that contest, pitching 6.2 innings of two-run baseball, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out six.

“Outstanding job by Grant to get it together, minimize the damage that inning and end up going 6 2/3,” manager Walt Weiss said. “Just a tremendous performance, exactly what we needed.”

With his latest performance, Holmes now holds a 2.55 ERA and a 14/8 K/BB ratio over his team-leading 17.2 innings. Reynaldo Lopez has him bested in ERA with a 1.15 ERA and a 13/5 K/BB ratio. Bryce Elder has kept the opposition scoreless over his two starts, striking out 13 compared to two walks. Chris Sale’s 3.94 ERA is the highest of the bunch, which is inflated due to giving up six runs in his most recent start.

The Braves played 13 games over the first 13 days of the season. Even with an injured pitching staff, they managed to go 8-5. The performance of pitchers not named Sale – who Atlanta will be relying on throughout the year – was crucial for Atlanta to not stumble out of the gate.

When the Braves’ injured pitchers return to action, the team will be an even scarier foe. But as it stands, Atlanta already has the best pitching staff in the league by ERA.

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