Matt Wisler didn’t handle last season’s adversity well. He would be the first to admit it.
But his 2018 season couldn’t have started much better: In a spot start, Wisler went seven innings, striking out eight and helping the Braves defeat the first-place Mets on April 19.
Wisler became the first and still only Braves starter to hit the seven-inning mark this season.
“It felt good,” he said. “Just trying to attack some hitters. Go out there and use my stuff. I feel as good as I have for a long time. To go out there and attack, don’t nibble, go right at guys and make them put the ball in play.”
The pleasant surprise earned him another look Wednesday in Cincinnati. Manager Brian Snitker had alternatives, including the recently recalled lefty Max Fried, but said Wisler deserved an additional opportunity.
Wisler was promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett following Anibal Sanchez’s pregame hamstring injury that put him on the 10-day disabled list.
He made two starts at Gwinnett, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his second outing. Snitker said some observers called it the “best Wisler has looked in a long time.”
The 25-year-old once was regarded as a promising prospect, but hasn’t lived up to his billing. He pitched in 20 games last season, making one start, and posting an 8.35 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 14 walks. He allowed 30 earned runs in 32-1/3 innings.
Wisler split time between the majors and Triple-A. He looked like a different pitcher in Gwinnett with a 3.56 ERA in 93-2/3 innings.
In Wisler’s own words, he didn’t handle bouncing between levels as well as he would have liked.
“Last year, I just didn’t really handle the ups and downs very well,” he said. “Coming up here, leaving, stuff like that. So I’m trying to make some mental adjustments and control what I can do.
I’m trying to put that in the past. Last year was a struggle. I never really got to settle into a rhythm so hopefully this year I’ll build off that and continue it in the long-run.”
It’s easy to slap the “Four-A player” label, often used to describe a player who performs well in Triple-A but can’t cut it in the majors, to Wisler. But his manager wouldn’t rule out Wisler finding his footing.
“He’s not an old kid,” Snitker said. “He’s still a young guy learning. You just never know when guys figure it out or the light goes on. It’s exciting and really encouraging, what we saw last night. It’s a good situation right now.”
Wisler is grateful to earn another start. He knows his role. He knows he’s facing an uphill battle as the system’s ascending crop of prized arms pushes him to the side.
He knows he’s fighting for every start. That begins and ends with the attacking mindset he’s preached. Wisler’s velocity nor control appeared notably different in his first start. It’s all mental for the righty.
“I’ve had my ups and downs before, so I’ve got to go out there on the mound and try to earn my spot every time,” Wisler said. “Nothing’s going to be given this year. So I’ve got to go out there and do the best of my capabilities and try to earn some more starts.”
Wisler will face a struggling Reds team. Cincinnati is 4-18 entering Tuesday, ranking last or near-last in several offensive categories, including homers, runs scored, team average and OPS.
“They’re still a big-league team,” he said. “Those guys are out there competing every day. I think a team like that, they might not win a whole lot of games this year but they’re going to come out there and play aggressive every game. We’ve got to take that into consideration, get ahead of them and try to bury them before they get any momentum.”
He’ll have a little extra motivation being back in his home state of Ohio. The Bryan native will have family in attendance, including his mother and grandfather.
