José

Suarez

It sounds like Weiss is considering flipping roles with Pérez and José Suarez after the latter gave up four runs over 3 2/3 innings on Tuesday against the Athletics. Pérez came out of the bullpen to spin 4 1/3 scoreless frames. Atlanta has a couple days to figure out their rotation plan. Regardless of their final decision, it’s a stay-away situation for fantasy managers.

Strider remains without a definitive return timeline after suffering an oblique strain during the late stages of spring training. The 27-year-old former fantasy ace has been one of the most polarizing arms in the entire fantasy landscape this spring. There should be a clearer timetable for his return to Atlanta’s injury-plagued rotation once he’s cleared to resume throwing. His absence puts José Suarez in the rotation with Didier Fuentes functioning as a multi-inning relief weapon.

The good news is that the injury is not related to his arm. The bad news is that, because of pitching mechanics, oblique strains can sideline pitchers for four to six weeks. Strider will not be able to throw while he manages the pain and inflammation. He will then begin some strengthening exercises and work his way back onto the mound and have to ramp up his pitch count again. Fantasy managers should expect Strider back in the rotation sometime in early May. Until then, the Braves will likely turn to either Jose Suarez or Didier Fuentes in their starting rotation; however, they could also decide to add any of Martin Perez, Carlos Carrasco, or JR Ritchie to their 40-man roster as well.

Fuentes has been one of the biggest revelations in the Grapefruit League this spring, compiling a sublime 17/0 K/BB ratio across nine perfect innings over three appearances, thanks mostly to a revamped slider. The wrinkle fantasy-wise here is that the hard-throwing 20-year-old rookie has made Atlanta’s season-opening roster as a reliever, not a traditional starter. That means José Suarez is likely going to wind up with the fifth spot in the rotation with Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Hurston Waldrep (elbow) and Joey Wentz (knee) on the shelf. The stuff should play up in shorter bursts out of the bullpen, which makes Fuentes an intriguing addition for fantasy managers in deeper mixed leagues. It wouldn’t be surprising if he made a handful of spot starts or eventually moved into the rotation full-time.

Fuentes has been an unexpected revelation this spring, posting a stellar 17/0 K/BB ratio across nine perfect innings over three appearances in Grapefruit League action. The hard-throwing 20-year-old clearly wasn’t ready when he was lit up during a brief four-game run with Atlanta last summer as a teenager. He’s looked magnificent this spring and has a decent chance at breaking camp in Atlanta’s season-opening rotation as their fifth starter. He’ll need to beat out veteran José Suarez to make that a reality. It’s too small of a sample size for fantasy managers to overreact but Fuentes is a talented pitching prospect that could be making a leap this spring. He’s worth rostering in deeper mixed leagues based on that possibility alone.

The 28-year-old left-hander piled up six strikeouts on the night while issuing a pair of free passes. The lone tally against him came as Jared Triolo smacked a one-out triple in the second inning and scored on a sacrifice fly. Aside from that, Suárez was in complete command. He’s making a strong case for inclusion in the team’s Opening Day rotation, posting a 3.38 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a 14/8 K/BB ratio over 16 innings in Grapefruit League competition.

The lone run came on catcher Tyler Tolve’s homer in the ninth. Suárez was facing five regulars today, and of that group, only Bryson Stott managed a hit against him. He has a 4.22 ERA in 10 2/3 innings as he tries to make the Braves as a fifth starter or as a middle reliever. That he’s out of options increases the chances that he’ll have a spot.

Riley Tirotta and Brandon Valenzuela homered off him. Suárez, who is out of options, is in the running to make the Braves as their fifth starter or as a middle reliever, but this won’t help. He gave up hard-hit balls to nine of the 15 batters he faced and two of the other six walked.

Atlanta tried to sneak Suarez through waivers earlier in January after avoiding arbitration, but the Orioles snapped him up. The Orioles then waived him last week, and Suarez is right back in Atlanta. The left-hander had a 1.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 16/10 K/BB ratio in 19 1/3 innings last season.

The Orioles just claimed the 28-year-old southpaw off of waivers from the Braves last week, but the allure of claiming Weston Wilson off of waivers was too much to pass up, so Suarez lost his spot on the 40-man roster once again. Given the overall lack of quality bullpen depth around the league, he could once again attract interest on waivers.