The Braves announced today that reliever Chad Sobotka is headed to the 10-day injured list with a left abdomen strain. He’ll be replaced by southpaw Grant Dayton.
Sobotka has scuffled out of the gates for the Atlanta club, turning in a dozen innings of 8.25 ERA ball to open the year. While he’s getting grounders (46.9%) and strikeouts (12.8 per nine), he’s also coughing up quite a few walks (6.8 per nine) and home runs (2.25 per nine on a 25.0% HR/FB rate).
It’s hard to diagnose the true root of the issues. Though Sobotka is still sitting at over 96 mph with his fastball and generating a 14.6% swinging-strike, opposing hitters are simply making better contact than they did in his debut stint last year. He’s getting first-pitch strikes 63.9% of the time, which is generally a good sign for walk rate, but is in the zone with just 35.8% of his pitches.
In any event, a brief respite may not be the worst outcome here, so long as the strain isn’t too serious. It’s not yet clear whether he’ll need a rehab stint and how long he’ll be sidelined. Of course, the Braves pen isn’t in the best position to weather any absences, even from a pitcher that hasn’t produced the desired results.
It’ll be interesting to see what the club gets from Dayton, a 2017-18 offseason waiver claimee who is now back from Tommy John surgery. He seems to be throwing the ball well at Triple-A, having compiled eight strikeouts without a walk (but with one home run against him) in his 5 1/3 frames. Dayton was a fascinating breakout reliever for the Dodgers in 2016 but did not sustain his initial showing in the ensuing season before going under the knife.
Sobotka is filthy when he throws strikes
Both sobotka and Biddle placed on the “performing well under expectations list”.
Both need a break from the fan scrutiny and circus exposure which definitely isn’t a bad thing.
Hahaha exactly what I was thinking.
lol nice. thats exactly what it is
Yeah, the crazy fan scrutiny of the Braves fan base. Lol
Hey, just say you’re a salesman and at the bottom of the board for 3-6 months in a row… You’re simply not doing what is expected of you and for baseball player’s sake, there is the “IL”, demotion to lower levels, or being released/placed on waivers depending what time of year it is and how much major league experience you have..
Instead of being put on systematic point levels of coachings, verbal warnings, written warnings, final written notices; this is simply the way baseball world works in terms of “corporate America”..before deciding if the entity determines whether you’re worth keeping around or letting you go..ie firing/canned.
Both need to start throwing strikes or find another profession
oh no. Bad luck for Ender. Looks like he may have pulled a hammy.
Ender is a warm climate kinda guy… When the heat turns up in the summer in ATL so does his hitting.
(Just got a gift, time to execute!)
Ender will actually go on the real IL..
Sobotka was said to feel a pull while throwing in the OF before the game, hence why the late move today. It is the beauty of having your AAA team 20 minutes up the road.
Orrrrr is it the beauty of hearing and believing “so called” injuries they want the fans to believe..?
Trust me, AA and LM are feeling the heat and making changes by putting a majority of their failed experiment BP on the “IL” while attempting to save face bringing Blevins in, experimenting with Webb, and giving Biddle and sobotka a break from the intense “heat”… All while hoping when the the latter 2 come back they will perform and the fanbase will give them a renewed “fresh chance” while they can keep the payroll/investment gamble at their absolute minimum..
They could just option Sobotka to the minors, I don’t see why they would fake an injury.
Camargo gonna take his job by the time he gets back