Braves Look to Tyler Mahle to Spark Rotation Push
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After a dominant debut, former Giants pitcher Tyler Mahle returns to the mound as Atlanta fights for National League home-field advantage.
The Atlanta Braves are leaning on newcomer Tyler Mahle to provide a spark to their starting rotation as they navigate a tight playoff race. Acquired from the San Francisco Giants, the 31-year-old journeyman arrives in Atlanta after struggling in the NL West, where he posted a 5.13 ERA and allowed 14 home runs across 18 starts, CBS Sports reports.
Mahle appears energized by the move to a contender. In his Braves debut last Friday at Yankee Stadium, he delivered six shutout innings with a season-high-tying nine strikeouts, though the bullpen ultimately surrendered a 2-0 lead in the ninth. Mahle noted that joining a first-place team that plays at a high level is exciting, and he credited a combination of his cutter, splitter, and four-seam fastball for his recent success. He currently holds a 2.73 ERA over his last five starts, according to CBS Sports.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos faced criticism from pundits for not securing a high-end starter at the trade deadline, specifically after failing to match the offer the Los Angeles Dodgers made to Detroit for Tarik Skubal, CBS Sports reports.
Tonight, Mahle will start again in the series finale against the New York Mets. He previously faced New York on April 3 while with San Francisco, allowing five runs and eight hits over five innings. The Braves are fighting for home-field advantage and a higher seed in the National League, currently trailing the Milwaukee Brewers in the standings, CBS Sports reports.