Braves prospect chosen as starter for the series opener in Houston

admin | April 15, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

One of Atlanta’s top pitching prospects will get a chance to start in Houston.

The Atlanta Braves head to Houston to take on one of the greatest teams in the American League. With Spencer Strider out for the season due to surgery to repair his UCL, the Braves will once again rely on their minor league system to fill the gap.

After Marcell Ozuna delivered a dramatic finish in the Braves’ 9-7 victory against Miami, the team announced who will start on Monday evening.

Darius Vines is the next in line for a pitching opportunity. Vines was called up after Allan Winans was optioned to Triple-A following a poor performance against the New York Mets. This will be Vines’ third start of his young career, having previously started for the Braves in 2023.

As expected, Snitker said after today’s game that Darius Vines will start for #Braves in Monday’s series opener at Houston.

— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 14, 2024

Bryce Elder was supposed to be the next in line for Atlanta, but the organization appears to believe Vines is the best option at the moment. That choice may alter after Monday’s start, but we’ll find out when the time comes.

Vines had a 3.98 ERA after 20.1 innings pitched in 2023, allowing nine runs on 15 hits. He walked seven hitters and struck out fourteen. He’s made two starts for Triple-A Gwinnett and has a 3.75 ERA after 12 innings, with five earned runs, seven hits, three walks, and 11 strikeouts.

He isn’t recognized for his swing-and-miss ability, but when he’s on his game, he can create ground ball outs. The Astros’ lineup is tremendously talented, so he will have his job cut out for him. Hopefully, he can give the Braves five solid innings before handing over to the bullpen.

Houston will also send out a rookie pitcher to face the Braves’ explosive attack on Monday night. Spencer Arrighetti made his MLB debut last week, facing the Kansas City Royals. The Royals have been shockingly good to start 2024, as they pounded Arrighetti for seven runs in three innings. Before being lifted, Arrighetti had three walks and three strikeouts.

With the Atlanta Braves offense coming to town, he will not have it any easier. Game one of the series begins at 8:10 p.m. EST from Minute Maid Park. This should be a competitive series between two World Series contenders.