Most optimism surrounding Wisler and a potential future as a starter in Atlanta has evaporated on the heels of a 5.26 ERA in 298 MLB innings, but the right-hander has performed well in two starts with Gwinnett this season. In his most recent outing, Wisler allowed only two runs in seven innings of work and, while most focus has been on a potential transition to the bullpen, the former prospect will have an opportunity to impress against a potentially potent Mets offense.
Aug 4, 2017:
Wisler will transition to the bullpen at Triple-A Gwinnett
Despite some flashes of success as a starter in the minors, a 5.12 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 199:98 K:BB and 1.4 HR/9 in 284.2 career big-league innings have prompted the Braves to re-evaluate whether Wisler has a place in their future rotation, especially considering the sheer volume of top-shelf pitching prospects moving quickly up the ladder behind him. The 24-year-old righty has the stuff to become an effective late-inning reliever, and he'll likely get a month at Triple-A to acclimate to his new role before getting called back up in September.
scouts say he needs more good pitches besides his excellent slider
and doesn't look like that has happened yet:
Mar 24, 2018:
Wisler actually looked like he found something in the offseason over his first three appearances, but then came his next three appearances. In his finally showing of the 2018 Spring Training, on Friday, he gave up six hits, one walk and seven runs WITHOUT getting an out. Pretty sure they told him right after this outing he?d be going to Gwinnett.
March 1, 2018:
Sharp this spring, Wisler back in rotation mix
After two rough years, Braves righty knows he faces uphill battle
By Mark Bowman MLB.com March 1, 2018
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Matt Wisler understands why he has gone from being a promising prospect to a forgotten asset over the past couple of seasons. But during his first two Grapefruit League starts, the right-hander has put himself back in the mix for a spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster.
"I'm just trying to prove to myself I can be a good quality pitcher no matter what I'm doing," Wisler said. "Obviously, I need to trust myself and have the team trust me again that I can get outs in the big leagues."
Wisler surrendered one hit and faced the minimum in three scoreless innings during Thursday's 6-2 split-squad loss to the Nationals at Champion Stadium. The right-hander has regained a feel for his slider, which has once again proved to be an asset as he has held opponents scoreless through his first five spring innings.
"Obviously, the slider is a big pitch for me," Wisler said. "Coming up through the Minors, that was my go-to pitch. When I'm dominant is when my slider is dominant. It just gives me confidence that I have that in my back pocket whenever I need it."
Wisler became one of the Braves' top pitching prospects when he was acquired in the trade the sent Craig Kimbrel to the Padres before the 2015 season. He joined Atlanta's rotation midway through that season and was a mainstay until things started to crumble two months into the '16 season.
After spending most of last year serving as a starter for Triple-A Gwinnett or Atlanta's long reliever, he spent this offseason trying to regain his confidence and a feel for the slider.
"Last year, I really drifted or got underneath it and it would spin a lot," Wisler said. "This year, I'm allowing myself to stay back and allow myself to get on top and out in front of it again."
Having fallen behind many of the Braves' pitching prospects on the depth chart, Wisler knows he is fighting an uphill battle in his bid to make the Opening Day roster. There's a chance he could briefly fill a rotation spot. But it appears his best chance to once again be part of Atlanta's pitching staff could come via a bullpen role.
"The only thing I can do is take care of myself," Wisler said. "We've got a lot of talented arms here and a lot of good guys. So, it's obviously tough competition. There are some guys in front of me and there should be. So I'm just trying to battle back and see what I can produce and show I can still be a quality big league pitcher."
I should have not listed my pitcher for ATL on my bet on the Over today as I knew the starter role was still fluid (between two mediocrities)...
Aug 4, 2017:
Wisler will transition to the bullpen at Triple-A Gwinnett
Despite some flashes of success as a starter in the minors, a 5.12 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 199:98 K:BB and 1.4 HR/9 in 284.2 career big-league innings have prompted the Braves to re-evaluate whether Wisler has a place in their future rotation, especially considering the sheer volume of top-shelf pitching prospects moving quickly up the ladder behind him. The 24-year-old righty has the stuff to become an effective late-inning reliever, and he'll likely get a month at Triple-A to acclimate to his new role before getting called back up in September.
scouts say he needs more good pitches besides his excellent slider
and doesn't look like that has happened yet:
Mar 24, 2018:
Wisler actually looked like he found something in the offseason over his first three appearances, but then came his next three appearances. In his finally showing of the 2018 Spring Training, on Friday, he gave up six hits, one walk and seven runs WITHOUT getting an out. Pretty sure they told him right after this outing he?d be going to Gwinnett.
March 1, 2018:
Sharp this spring, Wisler back in rotation mix
After two rough years, Braves righty knows he faces uphill battle
By Mark Bowman MLB.com March 1, 2018
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Matt Wisler understands why he has gone from being a promising prospect to a forgotten asset over the past couple of seasons. But during his first two Grapefruit League starts, the right-hander has put himself back in the mix for a spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster.
"I'm just trying to prove to myself I can be a good quality pitcher no matter what I'm doing," Wisler said. "Obviously, I need to trust myself and have the team trust me again that I can get outs in the big leagues."
Wisler surrendered one hit and faced the minimum in three scoreless innings during Thursday's 6-2 split-squad loss to the Nationals at Champion Stadium. The right-hander has regained a feel for his slider, which has once again proved to be an asset as he has held opponents scoreless through his first five spring innings.
"Obviously, the slider is a big pitch for me," Wisler said. "Coming up through the Minors, that was my go-to pitch. When I'm dominant is when my slider is dominant. It just gives me confidence that I have that in my back pocket whenever I need it."
Wisler became one of the Braves' top pitching prospects when he was acquired in the trade the sent Craig Kimbrel to the Padres before the 2015 season. He joined Atlanta's rotation midway through that season and was a mainstay until things started to crumble two months into the '16 season.
After spending most of last year serving as a starter for Triple-A Gwinnett or Atlanta's long reliever, he spent this offseason trying to regain his confidence and a feel for the slider.
"Last year, I really drifted or got underneath it and it would spin a lot," Wisler said. "This year, I'm allowing myself to stay back and allow myself to get on top and out in front of it again."
Having fallen behind many of the Braves' pitching prospects on the depth chart, Wisler knows he is fighting an uphill battle in his bid to make the Opening Day roster. There's a chance he could briefly fill a rotation spot. But it appears his best chance to once again be part of Atlanta's pitching staff could come via a bullpen role.
"The only thing I can do is take care of myself," Wisler said. "We've got a lot of talented arms here and a lot of good guys. So, it's obviously tough competition. There are some guys in front of me and there should be. So I'm just trying to battle back and see what I can produce and show I can still be a quality big league pitcher."
I should have not listed my pitcher for ATL on my bet on the Over today as I knew the starter role was still fluid (between two mediocrities)...
