Atlanta Braves Pitchers With Best All-Star Odds

It’s not just an exceptional season so far, it’s historic.

The 30-year-old right-hander’s 1.57 ERA is one of the best by a Braves pitcher through 13 starts ever. With a 3.0 WAR and 1.07 WHIP, Lopez might be the most obvious choice to become a first-time All-Star.

He’s within and out of reach of qualifying for MLB’s best ERA, but he’s still All-Star worthy. You could say he has good reason to start the match.

Max Frit

The Braves staff ace showed off well at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. He pitched six one-run innings, striking out four Yankees batters and allowing no walks. Fried lowered his season ERA to 3.00.

Fried has dominated in his last 11 starts with a 1.95 ERA in 73 2/3 innings pitched.

The 2022 All-Star has missed other opportunities to return to the Midsummer Classic, although it’s not for lack of performance on the mound. The exception is in 2021, where he had a 4.66 ERA before the break. Fair enough.

However, there was no All-Star Game in 2020 and he missed significant time in 2023. He pitched to a sub-3.00 ERA in both seasons.

However, Fried has put himself in a prime position to earn a second All-Star nod in 2024. He just needs to keep this momentum going.

Chris Sale

Chris Sale is no stranger to the All-Star Game. He made seven consecutive appearances from 2012 to 2018. However, he has not returned since. Sale simply failed to stay healthy and wasn’t the same pitcher when he was able to get on the mound.

That’s why some raised their eyebrows when the Braves traded top prospect for sale, then signed him an extension. But so far, the trade has worked out beautifully for the Braves.

So far, Sale has a league-leading 10 wins, a 2.91 ERA, a 2.30 FIP, and a 0.935 WHIP.

The highlight so far has been Sale’s May, when he was named National League Pitcher of the Month. In May, Sale went 5-0 with a 0.56 ERA in five starts. He allowed just two earned runs in 32 innings.

But wait. Didn’t Sale follow that up with a 5.09 ERA in June so far? Yes, but it’s a bit misleading. He was heavily impacted by just one rough start in which he allowed eight earned runs in four innings on June 1. The rest of June, he had a 2.37 ERA in 19 innings pitched. This start impacts his season enough that if you remove it, his season ERA drops to 2.17.

Chris Sale is having a renaissance season and his return to form is more than worthy of earning him an eighth All-Star appearance.

Jesse Chavez

Who was 40 years old Jesse Chavez make a star file? Well, some may have. If he didn’t get hurt last year, a month before the All-Star Game, maybe he’ll get a nod.

Chavez has somehow managed to surpass his 1.56 ERA in 34 2/3 innings in 2023. He currently has a 1.38 ERA in 32 2/3 innings and a WHIP of 1.07.

There’s something about Chavez on the Braves that works. When he’s with the Cubs and Angels, he’s a liability. Then he comes back to the Braves and shines. Chavez had a 7.59 ERA in 11 appearances in 2022 with the Angels. In 46 appearances with the Braves that same year, he posted a 2.72 ERA.

He followed that up with a 1.56 ERA in 36 appearances with the Braves in 2023.

The 40-year-old has never appeared in the All-Star Game. He might miss it again simply because there are other Braves pitchers who are likely ahead of him on the roster. Regardless, Chavez throws well enough to be an All-Star. On another team – assuming he can perform as well elsewhere – he’s an easy choice to represent.