Closer Bob Wickman and #4 starter Kyle Davies have both been awful so far this season. Wickman is 1-2 with 16 saves, a 4.80 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP so far this season. The Braves need Wickman to pitch better in the 2nd half of the season or they need to consider pulling him from the closers job and give it to Rafael Soriano. Kyle Davies has been pretty awful again this season. He is 4-7 with a 5.55 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP so far this season. The Braves would replace him if they had anyone that they thought could do a better job.

The Braves have placed Lance Cormier on the 15-day disabled list with a tired arm. I surprised it wasn’t whiplash with all of the homers he has allowed. In 2 starts this season, Cormier is 0-2 with a 15.26 ERA and a 2.74 WHIP! In 7.2 innings this season, Cormier has allowed 14 hits, 7 HOMERS, walked 7 batters and whiffed 4 batters. The Braves have recalled Buddy Carlyle from the minors to get his big chance. He will be the #5 starter on the Braves for as long as he can pitch well. In 3 games (2 starts), Carlyle is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Carlyle has thrown 12 innings and he has allowed 8 hits, walked 5 batters and whiffed 9.Â

The Braves were hoping that Chad Paronto would build upon the success he had last season, but so far this season he has been terrible. In 16 games this season, Paronto is 2-1 with 1 save, a 8.25 ERA and a 2.42 WHIP so far. In 12 innnings, he has allowed 19 hits and walked 10 batters! Paronto could find himself back in AAA ball unless he starts to pitch better soon.

Steve Colyer is darn lucky that he throws with his left arm because that’s the only reason that he keeps getting chances in the majors. He has pitched in 7 games this season for the Braves and he’s 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA and a 3.55 WHIP! In 3.2 innings with the Braves, Colyer has allowed 9 hits, a homer and he’s walked 4 batters. Colyer also has whiffed 4 batters which shows that he has pretty decent stuff, but, he is not that good of a pitcher.

Mark Redman, Macay McBride and Tyler Yates have all been pitching badly so far this season. The Braves really need Mark Redman to pitch good with the news that Mike Hampton will miss the entire 2007 season. Redman threw 5.2 innings in his first start of the season and he gave up 9 hits and 5 earned runs. That means he has a 7.94 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP after 1 start and the Braves hope he will get better and soon! Lefty reliever Macay McBride also has gotten off to a rough start as he has given up 3 hits and walked 6 batters in only 2 innings. The Braves need McBride to pitch well as their second lefty in the bullpen. Tyler Yates has also got lit up so far this season as he has thrown 1.2 innings and has given up 4 hits, walked 2 batters and allowed 2 earned runs.