I'm not backing off my prediction. (Actually, it's one prediction made a half-dozen times, but who's counting?) The Braves are not – repeat, ARE NOT – going to blow this. But they do need to start winning again posthaste.
The past four games have marked the nadir of these Braves. They’ve been outscored 32-12. They’ve led for a total of one-half inning. They’ve walked 29 batters in 36 innings. Their bullpen has yielded 16 earned runs. Their starters – Anibal Sanchez being the exception Tuesday night – have been worse. It’s only through the grace of the Philadelphia Phillies that the Braves’ lead is still 5-1/2 games.
After four egregious losses, the Braves need a starter to become a stopper. Toeing the slab for today's afternoon tilt against St. Louis: Touki Toussaint, age 22 and a veteran of three big-league starts. You might ask: Is this wise? Then you check the most recent pitching lines of Julio Teheran, Sean Newcomb and Mike Foltynewicz, and you think, "Why the heck not?"
Toussaint is a big-time talent. His acquisition from Arizona in the summer of 2015 marked the most creative trade made by John Coppolella, who in three years made more than his share of audacious deals. (Basically the Braves bought a teenage Round 1 draftee of great promise for the $10 million owed to Bronson Arroyo, who was hurt and who never pitched for the Braves.) He was just named the Braves' minor-league pitcher of the year for 2018, and he hasn't been battered in any of his first three starts.
We all knew – or at least hoped – there’d come a day when those pitchers lovingly assembled by Coppolella would have to take a turn in a major-league game of major stakes. Here it is. Today finds the Braves in a spin against an opponent of playoff caliber, with the Phillies due in for four games next. The first huge start for a member of Generation Coppy falls to Touki Toussaint.
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