GameDay Preview: Braves Excited for MLB Debut of Pitcher Darius Vines
DENVER, Colo. — The Atlanta Braves have the best record in baseball, but it hasn't been easy. They've had to use a ton of pitchers throughout their system at the big- league level, and it's happening again on Wednesday night with Darius Vines makes his major-league debut.
He's the 16th different starting pitcher the Braves have used this year.
"You're always excited to bring a new guy up,'' Braves manager Brian Snitker said prior to the game at Coors . ''He's a really neat kid and he's got a lot of weapons. I'm excited to see him.''
Vines is 25 years and was born in Oxnard, Calif. He's the Braves' No. 10-ranked prospect according to MLB.com. He's the sixth Braves pitcher to make their MLB debut this season, and the fourth to start a game.
What did Snitker tell him about making his first start?
"Just enjoy the moment and take it all in. Just do your thing and be yourself. I don't know, I never experienced that, so I'm sure there are other guys in that room who have a lot better stuff for him and went that themselves and be more insightful.
"I've seen guys come out and take it all in, and I'm like, 'good for you.' Enjoy this, because this is pretty special. You've worked hard for this, so just enjoy the whole thing.''
The Braves are 86-45 on the year, the best record in baseball. They lead the National Leage East by 13 games, despite the long list of pitchers all season.
"We've used them all too,'' Snitker said of his pitching staff. "We've had a number of guys, and it's good. We go to spring training every year and you talk about your depth. It doesn't make what kind of year you're having, you're going to use them. We've used a lot of guys once or twice and we even used one we didn't know we had. And next February, we'll go to camp and do the same thing all over again.
''Starting pitching is so hard to come by, but they've all handled it very well. It's been great, because we've been able to give guys and extra day, and that means a lot.''
Kyle Freeland, who is 5-13 with a 5.00 ERA this season, will start for Colorado in the series finale. Atlanta has won the first two games and is 6-0 against the Rockies this season.
Wednesday's Braves-Rockies starting lineups
ATLANTA BRAVES (86-45
- Ronald Acuna Jr., RF
- Ozzie Albies, SS
- Austin Riley, 3B
- Matt Olson, 1B
- Marcell Ozuna, DH
- Travis d'Arnaud, C
- Orlando Arcia, SS
- Kevin Pillar, LF
- Michael Harris II, CF
SP — Darius Vines (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
COLORADO ROCKIES (49-83)
- Charlie Blackmon, DH
- Ezequiel Tovar, SS
- Ryan McMahon, 3B
- Elias Diaz, C
- Nolan Jones, LF
- Hunter Goodman, 1B
- Michael Toglia, RF
- Alan Trejo, 2B
- Brenton Doyle, CF
SP — Kyle Freeland (5-13, 5.00 ERA)
