Injuries and opt-outs decimated the Atlanta Braves rotation in 2020, but the addition of a pair of veterans Jacob Webb Cat Jersey, along with the return to health of Mike Soroka, has this unit again looking like a position of strength. The Braves began the 2020 season with hopes of having a rotation that featured Soroka and Max Fried at the top, veteran addition Cole Hamels in the middle, and Mike Foltynewicz, Sean Newcomb, and others to round things out. Veteran Felix Hernandez also pitched well during Spring Training and appeared to be in line to claim a rotation spot with Hamels expected to begin the season on the injured list. Things went south from there. Hamels wasn ready to throw when Spring Training opened and he still wasn ready when camp resumed following the shutdown for the pandemic. He would end up logging a total of 3 1/3 innings pitched before returning to the injured list. Hernandez also wouldn return from the shutdown, opting out of the season entirely on July 4. Related2021 Atlanta Braves Season PreviewMike Soroka was lost for the season when he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in just his third start, having completed just 13 2/3 innings pitched for the season. If that wasn bad enough, Foltynewicz made his only start of the season on July 27 https://www.atlantapetsshop.com/Gene_Garber_Dog_Jersey-34, allowed six runs in just 3 1/3 innings, and was designated for assignment following the game. Foltynewicz made it through waivers unclaimed and headed to the alternate site, but would not sniff the major league roster again. He now with the Rangers. Newcomb made four starts, none lasting longer than 4 2/3 innings. His final start would come on August 10 when he allowed eight runs in just 1 1/3 innings against the Phillies. He too would be banished to the alternate site following that outing. This series of unfortunate events led to the Braves giving five starts each to Josh Tomlin Dale Murphy Dog Jersey, Touki Toussaint, Robbie Erlin and Huascar Ynoa. Tommy Milone was picked up at the trade deadline, but was sent to the injured list after posting a 14.90 ERA/7.33 FIP in just three starts. The season was a roller coaster for Kyle Wright and Bryse Wilson as both were pressed into service, but also spent time working at the alternate site. When you spell all of that out, it is a testament to just how good Atlanta offense and bullpen were in helping them navigate the season and emerge with another division title, although shortening the season to 60 games certainly helped. 2021 OutlookDepth is going to be extremely important to every pitching staff in 2021 https://www.atlantapetsshop.com/Austin_Riley_Dog_Jersey-8. Teams needed to only cover around 515 innings in 2020, but with the season expected to return to a full 162 games, that number will jump up to a more normal 1,400. Fried led all Braves pitchers in 2020 with 56 innings pitched during the regular season. There is some concern about pitcher workloads heading into the 2021 season and some teams are floating the idea of using six-man rotations or piggy backing starters to help. Don be surprised if the Braves utilize some of these concepts as well in order to try and keep their top guys fresh for what they are hoping will be another postseason run, though they probably won push the envelope too much despite having the arms to do it.