Braves' rotation outlook is improving

This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

This has been a very eventful week for Braves starting pitchers. Kyle Wright is back. Max Fried is close to being back, and Bryce Elder's recent success has lessened the sting of the recent Ian Anderson news.

Here’s a breakdown of where some of the organization’s top starters stand:

Fried: It’s now looking like Fried might be activated during next week’s series in San Diego. The lefty threw off a mound and did some fielding drills on Tuesday. He still hasn’t attempted to cover first base -- the activity he was performing when he strained his left hamstring on Opening Day. But because the strain wasn’t significant, he has continued to throw during most of his time on the injured list. It seems he could be activated to start Monday or Tuesday’s game against the Padres.

Spencer Strider: Must be nice to create some concern while striking out only nine batters in each of your first three starts. Maybe Strider’s command hasn’t been as sharp as he would like, but he still looks like a Cy Young Award candidate to me. As for his velocity, his four-seamer has averaged 97.2 mph, down from the 98.1 mph average he produced after moving to the rotation last year. I see this as another sign he is wise beyond his years and understands max effort over six months might not be beneficial in that seventh month -- the one they call the postseason. Plus, his 98th and final pitch against the Reds was 99.6 mph. When he needs it, it’s still there.

Wright: After looking rusty during Tuesday’s season debut, Wright said he felt he’d spent too much time re-strengthening his shoulder and not enough time mentally prepping for the season. The good news is his shoulder feels great, and he didn’t rush himself like Mike Minor detrimentally did after coming to Spring Training behind schedule in 2014. I’d expect last year’s only 20-game winner to be sharper on Sunday in Kansas City.

Elder: I guess we all knew that Triple-A Gwinnett’s Opening Day starter would be the first Atlanta pitcher to complete at least six innings multiple times this year. Baseball produces the best plot twists.

Anderson: Many of the “what’s wrong with Ian” thoughts evaporated this week, when it was learned Anderson would undergo Tommy John surgery. He never told the team about elbow discomfort before allowing three homers while facing nine batters in his only start for Gwinnett this year. But you have to wonder if last year’s decline was a sign of a developing structural issue. Whatever the case, he’ll get the fresh start he needs when he pitches again next year.

Michael Soroka: The right-hander has been effective and healthy through two starts for Gwinnett. Elder’s success has given the Braves a chance to remain patient with Soroka as he attempts to prove his twice surgically repaired Achilles can handle the regular rigors of serving as a starter or reliever.