Atlanta Braves pitching news and notes

Here's the latest we know on Charlie Morton's availability, Hurston Waldrep's postseason availability, and Kyle Wright

Atlanta Braves pitching has been a topic of much conversation over the weekend, with a lot of developments that have changed the postseason outlook for the team. 

We've gathered everything that is currently known in an attempt to answer some of your pressing questions: 

Charlie Morton will NOT be available for the NLDS

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According to MLB.com's Mark Bowman, the thought as of now is that Charlie Morton will not be available to pitch in the NLDS after leaving Friday night's start with a right index finger injury and being placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday morning.   

Braves manager Brian Snitker answered media questions about Morton on Sunday, after the doubleheader. “We were looking at the calendar and it’s going to be over three weeks [of recovery]. So, hopefully, best-case scenario, he could be ready for [the NLCS] if we advance.”

Morton's technically eligible to be activated after NLDS game one as an injury replacement, but he reportedly won't be ready to pitch by then and so the NLCS (if Atlanta advances) is the new target for Morton's return to the rotation. 

We talked about options for the NLDS yesterday, HERE. 

Hurston Waldrep will NOT be part of the postseason plans for Atlanta

Rome Braves

One of Atlanta's top pitching prospects, Waldrep debuted in AAA over the weekend and was dominant, leading to speculation that he'd get either an MLB look in the final week or even potentially be a piece for the postseason. 

But Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports ($) that Waldrep's season, that started at the University of Florida in February, is finally over.  

His outing in AAA Gwinnett was the planned final appearance for him this season, and would have been in AA with Mississippi had that season not ended the week prior. He threw over 101 innings for Florida as they advanced all the way to the College World Series finals, eventually losing to National Champion LSU. Atlanta had him pitch only 29.1 innings across his eight starts, never allowing him to go more than five innings at a time and only once to surpass 65 pitches, which he did in his final outing for Gwinnett. 

Kyle Wright is a reliever for the rest of this season

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Understanding the time crunch they're under before the postseason starts, Atlanta has chosen to shift Kyle Wright into the bullpen rather than continuing with him as a starter. 

Wright was last season's MLB wins leader, with 21, but missed more than three months of the season with lingering shoulder soreness that he's been chasing since last season. Wright had a cortisone injection in the shoulder in January, delaying the start to his spring training, and eventually ended up being placed directly on the 60-Day IL after five mostly-ineffective starts. In those five starts, Wright pitched only 18.2 combined innings, with 10 walks and 12 earned runs, allowing 23 hits. 

He initially struggled on his return, taking two straight losses against Philadelphia with ten runs allowed in seven innings, but Sunday's relief stint behind Spencer Strider looked significantly better: one run on three hits in three innings, with no walks and two strikeouts on only 31 pitches. 

Wright's best chance to contribute in the postseason looks like it'll be as a multi-inning reliever out of the pen, and he'll get an offseason to build back into a starter's role for 2024.    

What's next for the Atlanta Braves?  

Tuesday starts a three game set with the Chicago Cubs, who are fighting for a Wild Card spot. Chicago's throwing their studs in the upcoming series, while Atlanta has Bryce Elder and two TBDs on the docket.

First pitch in Tuesday's series opener is scheduled for 7:20 PM ET, with the broadcast on Bally Sports South.

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