bravesfanMatt
Steve Harvey'd
wOBA/xwOBA confirms the story we are all seeing with our eyes.
Sale, Chris LHP .235 .255 (lucky)
López, Reynaldo RHP .258 .302 (very lucky)
Morton, Charlie RHP .303 .304 (even)
Fried, Max .272 .305 (lucky)
Elder, Bryce RHP .416 .379 (terrible)
Sale is pitching like an undisputed Ace right now. We all see it, and the numbers back it up. Keeping him healthy for October is more important than winning during the regular season. He is capable of almost singlehandedly winning a 5 game series if he starts 2 games.
Lopez, Morton and Fried are pitching like #3 SPs, each with a varying amount of luck. I expect Fried to settle in as his typical #1/#2 self as he puts the first couple starts behind him.
Elder is what everyone who wasn't a fool knew he was. I'm not sure how many resources should be dumped into a #5 SP for a team on pace to win 99-100 games until a few more of the in house options are given some run.
Only thing the team is someone who can at least eat innings and not wreck the pen. If elder can provide that then let him go get destroyed. I worry using Kerr is going to hurt more than help since he will have to be gradually moved up in pitch count and not even sure it would be any more affective than elder.