The Atlanta Braves will take on the Chicago Cubs today as they are looking for a series win coming a week after already picking up a series win against the Cubs. The Braves dropped the opener on Tuesday and then won on Wednesday 9-2. The Braves have been in a rough stretch as they are now six games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the National League East due to going 2-5 in their last seven. The Cubs will have Ben Brown getting the ball while the Braves decided to call up the 66th overall prospect by ITD RHP AJ Smith-Shawver to make his first start of the 2024 season with the Braves.
AJ Smith-Shawver By The Numbers
Smith-Shawver was drafted by the Braves in the seventh round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He spent 2021 with their rookie league team going 0-1 in four starts with an 8.64 ERA, a 1.68 WHIP, and 16 strikeouts in 8.1 innings. In 2022 he pitched at Single-A Augusta going 3-4 in 17 starts with a 5.11 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and 103 strikeouts in 68.2 innings. In 2023 he pitched at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A making 15 starts going 4-2 with a 2.76 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and 79 strikeouts in 62 innings. He also made his big league debut last season on June 4th he went 2.1 innings in relief, he didn’t allow a run or a hit; he walked one and struck out three. On June 9th he made his first start going 5.1 innings giving up two runs, none earned on three hits; he walked two and struck out two. He finished the season with the Braves going 1-0 in six appearances with five of those as starts with a 4.26 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts in 25.1 innings. This season with Triple-A Gwinnett he’s made eight starts going 1-2 with a 6.10 ERA, a 1.51 WHIP, and 35 strikeouts in 31 innings.
