The Atlanta Braves may have clinched a postseason spot, but the playoff roster is very much in flux. The majority of the lineup -- and at least the first half of the postseason rotation -- is set in stone. The rest? Well, we'll leave that up to the front office to decide.
As of late, though, the pitching staff in particular has struggled. There's still plenty of time to turn that around -- and the numbers won't really count until the NLDS, given the Braves won't be playing in the NL Wild Card round -- but it's still something for fans and pundits alike to keep on their radar.
Atlanta's postseason rotation is almost sure to feature Max Fried, Charlie Morton, Spencer Strider and perhaps Bryce Elder. The lineup has been the same for the majority of the regular season, and there isn't much debate regarding the nine names fans have grown familiar with. However, there are several bench pieces, bullpen arms and more who could use these last two weeks to prove they can cut it when the games matter more.
Braves playing their way off the roster: Michael Tonkin
It's been a long road and season for Michael Tonkin, and as a right-handed relief pitcher in the bullpen, he is one of many pitchers on the chopping block as the postseason roster cut line approaches. Unfortunately for Tonkin, he hasn't been pitching very well of late. Tonkin has an ERA over nine in his last seven games, and 4.71 in his last 30 games.
That's not the kind of security Atlanta needs from a middle-relief pitcher, especially one who could be relied upon heavily come the postseason. Starting pitchers often has shorter leashes, and the Braves bullpen will determine the outcome of several games in the playoffs.
For Brian Snitker and Alex Anthopoulos, they must choose the pitchers they're most comfortable using in high-leverage situations. It's hard to make the argument that is Tonkin right now, though he's been a great story all season long.
Braves playing their way off the roster: Nicky Lopez
Nicky Lopez isn't known for his bat, but he needs to show more at the plate if he's to earn a spot over a player of a similar variety who can hit. Lopez can play multiple infield positions, which is why Anthopoulos acquired him from the Kansas City Royals in the first place. It was another wise acquisition by AA, as the Braves lack significant infield depth at multiple positions. When Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia went down at various times in the second half, the Braves knew they could rely on Lopez defensively.
However, Lopez is hitting just .118 over his last seven games and .205 over his last 15 games. It's a small sample size, but every at-bat matters for a player like Lopez, who is hoping to earn his way onto the postseason roster with versatility. Players like Vaughn Grissom and Braden Shewmake can also offer this skill -- though Lopez is far superior to Grissom defensively -- but with a little more pop in their bat.
If Lopez is to secure his spot (and he's certainly the favorite to do so right now), he needs to break out of his recent slump and prove that he can at least be counted on from productive at-bats. Right now, that's simply not the case.
Braves playing their way off the roster: Kyle Wright
Kyle Wright won 20 games last season, and was one of the best pitchers in the National League. However, injuries have derailed his 2023 season, and in two starts off the injured list he has an ERA over seven. The Braves as a whole have one of the worst team ERAs in September, so finding reliable starting pitching is paramount to their success come the NLDS and beyond.
It also hurts Wright's case that Atlanta has plenty of starting pitching depth. Spencer Strider, Max Fried, Charlie Morton and even Bryce Elder have pitched better than Wright since his call up. An argument can be made that Wright should serve in the bullpen as a long reliever, but if his numbers continue to drop off at this rate, it may make sense for Atlanta not to risk further injury and give Wright more time to recover, even if that means being away from his teammates.
Wright is a solid starting pitcher, and a big part of the Braves future. Keeping him off the postseason roster should not be considered a reflection of what the front office thinks of him. Unfortunately, injuries do play a role in these decisions, and Wright could be an odd man out.
