Braves Briefing: Hurston Waldrep dominates in AAA debut

Waldrep's successful debut only increases the likelihood that Atlanta gives him a major league shot in the final week of the season

Top Atlanta Braves prospect Hurston Waldrep passed his most recent test. 

Making his first start for AAA Gwinnett just months after being taken in the 2023 MLB Draft's 1st round, Waldrep pitched 4.1 scoreless innings with three walks and five strikeouts as Gwinnett defeated Durham, 2-0, on Saturday night. 

Waldrep threw 71 pitches, 45 for strikes, throwing mostly cutters and fastballs, with some sliders and just four of his trademark low-spin splitter. He's a unique pitcher in a few ways, including how he has a high-spin slider and a low-spin changeup, and that uniqueness was evident on the ugly swings from Durham hitters. 

Waldrep's got some control issues to iron out - he walked 5.0 batters per nine in his final collegiate season, and he's walked 4.9 so far in his professional career. That walk rate spiked a bit when he got to AA Mississippi in September, probably owing to the transition from the lower minors baseball to the MLB ball that is used in the upper minors (NOT the pre-tacked baseball; that ended before he got to AA). 

But his successful dominance just increases the chances that Atlanta gives him a major league shot in the final week of the season, both to test out his stuff at the highest level and to prevent any other crucial starters from suffering the sort of injuries that have now jeopardized the availability of Max Fried and Charlie Morton for the NLDS.

Wild Card Standings

The Atlanta Braves have won the NL East and secured a first-round bye but we're closely watching the Wild Card race as Atlanta will play the winner of the Wild Card series pitting the top two wild card finishers in the Divisional Round.

Team	Record	Wild Card	Action Today
Philadelphia	86-69	+5.0	vs Mets
Arizona	81-73	+0.5	@ Yankees
Chi Cubs	81-74	--	vs Rockies
Miami	80-75	-1.0	vs Brewers
Cincinnati	79-77	-2.5	vs Pirates

We Wrote It

Staff writer Kyle Richardson had some fantastic info about the importance of a quality start for this Braves staff:

How important is it for starting pitchers to have a quality start? Look no further than this stat: the Braves have won 24 games in a row when their starting pitcher goes at least six innings. That broke a record that they shared with the 1935 Cubs and the 1931 Philadelphia Athletics. 

Read the whole thing HERE

What's next for Atlanta? 

Owing to yesterday's postponement for landfall of Tropical Storm Ophelia, Atlanta's playing two today. Game one in Washington is set for the original game time of 1:35 PM ET, with game two scheduled for 6:35 PM ET. Both games are set to be broadcast on Bally Sports Southeast. 

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