“For AJ-Smith-Shawver it’s just a lot more traditional power pitcher stuff, and that’s the kind of thing you’re going to need in a place like the Great American Ballpark where the ball is going to fly, and I think if you can just keep the game manageable it’s going to give this Braves offense a chance to breakout and enjoy hitting in that ballpark as well.”
Our Braves insider Grant McAuley said that to The Morning Shift when asked about why the Braves rookie pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver is equipped to be successful against the surging Cincinnati Reds.
Mid to high 90s fastball, a couple of breaking pitches, a curveball, and a slider, AJ has it all at his disposal to take down the Reds in tonight’s game one of a three game set. Without his electrifying stuff Smith-Shawver wouldn’t have gone through the farm system and gotten up to the big league club as fast as he did, so at this point it’s all about execution and trust.
Much like Bryce Elder, as long Smith-Shawver trusts his stuff and executes like every other pitcher in the MLB needs to do, he will be more than capable of ending the Reds MLB leading 11-game winning streak, and help give the Braves the longest current winning streak in baseball.
