Remember last week when I said that starting pitching depth was my greatest concern? Well that was before we knew Sale might miss two months with a broken rib and before we knew his replacement in the rotation would be a 20-year-old hurler with just one start above the Double-A level.
With that being said, Didier Fuentes does seem to currently be a better option than Hurston Waldrep and Ian Anderson. Actually, let’s do this. Let’s erase ever mentioning Anderson as a potential replacement again. He has issued at least four walks in each of his past five starts and he recorded just two outs before exiting his most recent outing for Gwinnett.
Waldrep had his own clunker, recording just one out against Nashville, on June 8. But he has been effective in six of his past seven starts. He might establish himself as a better option within the near future.
But Fuentes showed his potential, giving up four runs over five innings against the Marlins in his MLB debut on Friday. Will he have similar success against a more talented Mets lineup on Wednesday?
Yeah, this is why losing another starter was such a significant concern.
Reynaldo López said he feels great and expects to have his surgically-repaired right shoulder evaluated within the next week. Still, even if he’s cleared to begin ramping up as a starter, he may not be ready much earlier than Sale could return to the rotation.
Sale’s timetable isn’t clear, but for now a mid-August return seems to be a good guess.
So, go ahead and throw a starting pitcher near the top of the Braves’ needs if they are in position to be buyers before the July 31 Trade Deadline.
