By: Kipp Branch

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

The Braves have designated Bartolo Colon for assignment and called up LHP Rex Brothers from Gwinnett.

The Colon experiment is finally over in Atlanta. 2-8 with an 8.14 ERA coming off being bombed by the Padres Wednesday night. The Braves front office has finally had enough. Let’s look at the Braves rotation for the balance of the season.

R.A. Dickey: At 42 years of age Dickey has a 6-5 record and a 4.63 ERA. Dickey has pitched well at times for the Braves this season, but the Braves have many young arms in the system ready for a shot.

Prediction: Offer Dickey to a team at the trading deadline for another bat or relief pitching. If no takers, keep as a 5^th starter for until Kyle Wright is ready to be called up in September.

Julio Teheran: At 26 years of age Julio is the number one starter for the Braves rotation. At 6-6 and a 5.30 ERA Teheran has shook off the slow start with many quality starts as of late.

Prediction: I once wanted to dangle Teheran at the trading deadline, but he could be a fixture in this rotation for next 4-6 years. Keep him in the rotation.

Jaime Garcia: At 30 years of age. Garcia currently sits at 2-5 with a 4.03 ERA. Garcia has some value on the trade market being a left handed starter. Garcia has pitched well for the Braves in 2017, but at age 30 the Braves need to move him for bullpen help down the stretch.

Prediction: Trade at deadline to an American League contender.

Sean Newcomb: The lefty has pitched very well since being called up earlier this month. 1-2 with a 1.48 ERA lands him a spot in this rotation.

Prediction: number 2 or 3 starter in the rotation for next 5-7 years. At 6’5 255 this kid has workhorse written all over him. Newcomb needs to hire him a real estate agent because he will be in Atlanta for quite a while.

Mike Foltynewicz: At 25 years of age with a 5-5 record and a 4.10 ERA Foltynewicz has pitched very well as of late. A consistent 96-97 mph fastball makes Foltynewicz a keeper on the Braves rotation.

Prediction: Foltynewicz is a quality starter in this rotation for next 3-5 years.

Matt Wisler:At 24 years of age, the jury is still out on Wisler. He sits at 0-1 with a 6.60 ERA. Confidence seems to be the key for Wisler. He has major league stuff, but just needs innings to gain that confidence.

Prediction: I think you place Wisler in the rotation now and just let him take his lumps and grow into a number 4 or 5 starter for 2018.

Kyle Wright: The Braves drafted Wright with the 5^th pick in the 2017 MLB draft. Many thought he would go as the first overall pick. His fastball peaks at 97 mph and he is consistently in the 93-95 mph range. He has a full complement of secondary pitches that include a curve, slider, cutter, and change-up. Wright will be ready for the show by late August.

Prediction: #1 starter by 2019.

Here goes what I would like to see the rotation look like for the balance of 2017:

Teheran

Newcomb

Foltynewicz

Wisler

Dickey/ Wright (in September)

The Bartolo Colon experiment is finally over. You can ship all of the Bartolo bobble heads to a developing country as toys for the children.

Preferably the same country that received all of the Falcon Super Bowl Champion T-Shirts.

The Braves are finally on the right track.