Spencer Schwellenbach strikes out 11 Mets in Braves’ shutout as rapid ascent continues
Spencer Schwellenbach strikes out 11 Mets in Braves’ shutout as rapid ascent continues
If rookie Spencer Schwellenbach keeps pitching like he has in July and even close to what he did in an 11-strikeout performance against the New York Mets in seven innings of a 4-0 win Saturday, the Atlanta Braves might not need to add a starting pitcher before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Especially since Max Fried is progressing toward a return from the injured list not long after the minimum 15-day stint required when he was sidelined by forearm neuritis coming out of the All-Star break. His IL stint is retroactive to July 18.
Unless the Braves are concerned about Reynaldo López staying healthy and fresh — the converted reliever has struggled in his past two starts and already pitched 35 more innings than in any season since 2019 – spots in their rotation look strong with All-Stars Chris Sale, Fried, Lopez and now Schwellenbach. The rookie allowed just two hits with no walks and those career-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings Saturday to trim his July ERA to 2.08 in four starts.
“We needed this one today, and Spencer took care of it,” Braves catcher Sean Murphy said after Schwellenbach fired 62 strikes in 89 pitches, recorded his highest average fastball velocity of the season (96.8 mph), and matched Brandon Beachy’s franchise record with 60 strikeouts through his first 10 career starts.
