Brian Snitker and the Atlanta Braves have made their decision for Game 1 of the Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres, and they will be starting 21-year-old right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver. The Braves’ pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries, with ace Chris Sale sidelined and key arms like Spencer Schwellenbach, Reynaldo Lopez, Charlie Morton, and Max Fried unavailable for Game 1. A bullpen game is also off the table, considering the team is coming off a grueling stretch of five games in four days.
With limited options, the Braves were forced to choose between Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver, both of whom made the Wild Card roster. According to Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Snitker and his staff have opted for Smith-Shawver to take the mound.
Given Smith-Shawver’s limited big-league experience, the Braves are expected to keep him on a short leash, especially if the game remains close. It’s possible that both Smith-Shawver and Elder could see action in this game due to a depleted bullpen, though neither is expected to pitch deep into the contest.
Smith-Shawver, who made just one appearance for the Braves this season, delivered 4.1 innings of scoreless baseball against the Cubs on May 23. Despite his promising 3.64 career ERA in 29.2 big-league innings, Smith-Shawver has faced setbacks, including an oblique injury that landed him on the IL after that May performance.https://x.com/JustinCToscano/status/1841182784288932211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1841182784288932211%7Ctwgr%5E7133e89b3f2e3f6e52c6699c6421aebe48bc3188%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportstalkatl.com%2Fbraves-to-start-aj-smith-shawver-in-game-1-against-padres%2F
Though he returned to action in early July, Smith-Shawver has spent the remainder of the season in Triple-A Gwinnett, where his performances have been inconsistent. In his final outing of the regular season, he struck out 10 batters but also gave up five earned runs on six hits, including four home runs.
From a raw talent perspective, Smith-Shawver is the Braves’ best option. While his inexperience is a concern, the Braves are banking on his potential to keep the Padres in check for a few innings, giving the team a shot to advance to the NLDS, where Max Fried is expected to start Game 2.
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