Getting a 21-game winner from last year back in the rotation would certainly be a huge boost for the Atlanta Braves, but expecting that from Kyle Wright is not wise. It's been a rough year for Kyle Wright who was coming off a breakout season and trying to prove it was no fluke.
But things got off to a rocky start as shoulder issues delayed his Spring Training and regular season.
He made just 5 starts in the regular season before going on the injured list with more shoulder issues. And even in those 5 starts, it seemed like he was still trying to get his footing after missing most of Spring Training.
Now after being on the shelf for four months, the Atlanta Braves are looking to see what he has left to offer for 2023.
In his first game back on Monday things did not go well as he allowed 6 runs in 3-plus innings to the Phillies.
After a rough first inning, he seemed to settle down the next time through the order. But he clearly had the look of someone who is rusty and just needs more time to get back to his old self.
The problem is, we're running out of time as there are only 18 regular season games left.
At most, Kyle Wright could get four more starts the rest of the way.
At this point, he's still just trying to build up arm strength. He threw just 62 pitches in Monday's game, so he's probably two starts away from building up to a normal workload -- where you would be at the end of Spring Training.
That leaves him at most two full workload starts to get ready for the postseason.
Can he do it? -- absolutely. Is it something I would be banking on if I were the Braves -- or even as a fan? -- absolutely not.
There just simply might not be enough time for Wright to prove he's ready to start a postseason game.
Another option could be to groom him as a long reliever out of the bullpen.
In the postseason, you need to have a quick trigger with your starting pitchers. If Charlie Morton or Bryce Elder clearly don't have it in a start, then perhaps you pull that trigger early and give Kyle Wright a chance.
That might be the most likely role -- and most useful role -- for Wright in the postseason.
It's not that Kyle Wright can't get back to that 2022 form, there just might not be enough time for it to happen this year. One of the biggest things to watch down the stretch is how Wright progresses and what direction the Braves play things.
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