Ian & Elder Over the Hill
Kyle Wright continues to twirl gem after gem in 2022. He logged a career-high 11 strikeouts in last night’s 3-0 win over Miami. Through six innings he only allowed four hits. In the top of the 6th inning he loaded the bases with a HBP, Soler single, & a Aguilar walk. Prompting Brian Snitker to stroll out to the mound and make a pitching change…except he didn’t. Snitker let Kyle finish what he’d started in the inning, and pulling off possibly the boldest display of confidence I’ve ever seen on a professional baseball diamond.
Wright got Avisail Garcia to softly groundout back to him to end the inning and his night.
Darren O’Day, Tyler Matzek, & Kenley Jansen finished the shutout & bring the Braves to one game under .500.
Ian & Elder
Two of Major League Baseball’s youngest pitchers with a rotation spot can sweep this series & bring the Braves over the .500 hill. It likely won’t bring us closer to the division top however since the Mets are playing the Diamondbacks.
Ian has struggled against the Marlins in his young career, sitting at 1-2 with a 4.29 ERA. But as you like to see out of your young stars, he’s progressed. His last outing saw his career high (vs Miami) in strikeouts, career low in runs allowed, only two walks, & his only career win against the Marlins.
Bryce Elder has never faced the Marlins, obviously; but they’re a lineup similar to Washington. A Nationals lineup that he held in check until he ran out of gas and Juan Soto & Josh Bell took advantage. The Padres lineup runs circles around Miami’s, which bodes well seeing as Bryce held San Diego to two runs with his D- stuff that day.
At the very least, Elder can put Atlanta in position to win the series. If Ian upholds his end of the bargain, Elder’ll be pitching for the first sweep of the season for Atlanta.
Opposing Pitcher: Elieser Hernandez
Today’s opposing pitcher Elieser Hernandez, is 1-1 so far this season with a 4.22 ERA through 10.2 innings. He throws (in order of usage) a 4-seam fastball, slider, changeup, & sinker.
His fastball and sinker sit at 91 mph, his changeup is in the low 80’s, while his slider doesn’t even crack 80 mph.
His 4-seamer is anything but straight; breaking 22 inches - 15 inches of drop & 7 inches of horizontal movement.
His most devastating pitch movement comes when he throws his changeup. With 44 inches of crooked - 28 vertical, 16 horizontal - it’s the nastiest pitch in his arsenal.
Elieser’s pitching visuals below are powered by Baseball Savant.