Schwellenbach adds 12-K gem to All-Star bona fides

ATLANTA -- Spencer Schwellenbach will make one more start before the National League’s pitching staff is announced. Should he already be considered a lock to earn his first All-Star selection?

“I’d love to see him there,” Braves catcher Sean Murphy said. “That would be awesome.”

Schwellenbach was certainly awesome as he notched a career-high 12 strikeouts and helped the Braves end a three-game skid with a 6-1 win over the Phillies on Saturday night at Truist Park. His effort was backed by a loud Murphy grand slam that had a 114.4 mph exit velocity.

“Schwelly was great tonight,” Murphy said. “I felt like he was executing extremely well. He’s got so many options and weapons that it’s fun to catch. It makes for an interesting game.”

Coming off a pair of losses to the Mets and a demoralizing 13-0 smackdown in Friday’s series opener, the Braves needed exactly what they received from Schwellenbach, who scattered three hits over seven innings and reclaimed the MLB lead in innings pitched (110 2/3).

Schwellenbach ranks 11th among NL pitchers with a 3.09 ERA and third with a 0.97 WHIP, trailing only Paul Skenes (0.91) and Zack Wheeler (0.92). The 25-year-old hurler has lasted at least seven innings seven times while producing a 2.60 ERA over his past 10 starts.

With his six-pitch mix including a fastball that recently began flirting with 100 mph on a consistent basis, Schwellenbach now has four double-digit strikeout totals this year. This ties him with Tarik Skubal, Chris Sale, Jesús Luzardo, Garrett Crochet, Logan Webb and Cole Ragans for the MLB lead.

“He’s such an impressive guy and he’s going six and seven [innings] every time he goes out there,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

Schwellenbach has completed at least six innings in each of his past 10 starts. This is the second-longest active streak in the Majors, behind Seattle’s Bryan Woo, and the longest such streak by a Braves pitcher since Max Fried recorded at least 18 outs in 10 consecutive outings from April 19-June 9, 2022.

So what are the most important stats for Schwellenbach?

“The innings are probably the most important thing to me, and walks,” Schwellenbach said.

Schwellenbach ranks second among all qualified MLB pitchers with a 6.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio, trailing only Skubal (9.62). He is the first Braves pitcher since Kris Medlen Aug. 11-Sept. 30, 2012 to issue two or fewer walks over 10 straight starts.

“We had the right guy going today after that game got away from us last night,” Snitker said.

Kyle Schwarber was the only Phillies player to reach base through the first first innings. He was awarded a double after Eli White, who started in center in place of Michael Harris II, broke in on a ball that sailed past him. Schwellenbach kept Philadelphia scoreless before allowing a couple of singles in the sixth.

This dominance wasn’t anything new. Schwellenbach has a 2.01 ERA in five career starts against the Phillies. He’s completed six innings in four of those outings and he has not allowed more than two runs in any of them.

But it’s not just a Philly thing. Schwellenbach has a 2.22 ERA in 14 career starts against NL East opponents. He’s allowed two runs or fewer in 11 of those outings and has allowed more than three runs just once – last week, when he allowed four runs over seven innings of a win over the Mets.

Having served as the NL manager in 2022, Snitker understands it’s hard to get every deserving player on the All-Star team. But given some pitchers could be unavailable because of injury or because they pitch on the Saturday or Sunday before the All-Star Game, he is confident Schwellenbach will at least eventually gain a spot.

The All-Star pitching staffs and reserves will be announced on Sunday, July 6.

“There’s a lot of variables to him ending up on that team, even if he’s not told on Sunday,” Snitker said.