Kyle Wright (SP, ATL) - Week 2 Waiver Wire Pickups

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ANALYSIS: The Atlanta Braves just optioned Mike Foltynewicz following a horrendous first start for the 2020 MLB season, and while Sean Newcomb put up a solid showing as a starter to kick off the year against the New York Mets, 2019 demonstrated just how much more effective he is as a member of the bullpen than the rotation. That has left the door open for 24-year-old highly-touted prospect and former Vanderbilt Commodore Kyle Wright to break into this abbreviated season as a starter for a hopeful Atlanta club.

Now, I am fully aware that just last night, Wright turned in a subpar outing against Tampa Bay with three walks, four hits, and five ER in just 2.2 IP (though he did strike out three batters). Despite this first start of the weirdest season in baseball history, there are plenty of reasons to trust in Wright and settle in for the ride. The Huntsville native has consistently dealt well with increasing competition, as evidenced by his 3.70 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, and 8.6 K/9 over 20 starts (109.1 IP) at Double-A when compared to his 3.83 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, and 9.2 K/9 over 28 games (25 starts, 141.0 IP) at Triple-A. Wright mixes it up on the mound with a fastball (94.6 MPH), slider (87.2 MPH), curve (80.7 MPH), and changeup (85.7 MPH), and parlays this variety into a 1.23 GB/FB ratio and 41.6% grounder rate for his professional career, which makes his 2019 MLB BABIP figure of .351 all the more unlikely. With that in mind, deploy Kyle Wright with confidence, and the Braves' run support right behind him.