The Atlanta Braves are one win away from their first World Series championship with 1995, and they’re giving the ball to a rookie in Game 5 on Sunday. Lefty Tucker Davidson will get the Game 5 start, the team announced. It will be his first MLB appearance since June 15. Davidson is filling in for Charlie Morton, who was dropped from the roster after breaking his leg in Game 1.
Davidson, 25, took Morton’s spot on the roster earlier this series. He made four starts for the Braves this season, allowing eight runs in 20 innings, and he pitched to a 1.17 ERA in four Triple-A starts. Davidson went down with an elbow injury in June, though he did not need Tommy John surgery, and he returned in time to make a three-inning Triple-A rehab start on Oct. 3.
“He’s good. Reports were really good how he was throwing, and he feels good. He did a really nice job for us when he was here the first time,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said when Davidson was added to the roster prior to Game 2. “… He’s been in Gwinnett throwing live. They’re pitching simulated games and things like that.”
Game 5 will be Davidson’s first game action since that Triple-A rehab start. Unlike Game 4 opener Dylan Lee, who is a true reliever, Davidson is stretched out a bit and could give the Braves more than one inning. The Astros figure to have at least three lefties in the Game 5 lineup (Michael Brantley, Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker), and Davidson could be asked to face each of them twice.
That assumes Davidson is effective enough to go through the lineup a second time, of course. Veteran lefty Drew Smyly will be in the bullpen and available to soak up multiple innings in relief the way Kyle Wright did in Game 4. Even with a commanding 3-1 series lead, Snitker will have a short leash with Davidson. He won’t let the game get away early.
MLB.com ranks Davidson as the No. 7 prospect in Atlanta’s system, and their scouting report notes “(throwing) consistent strikes would give him the chance to start, though his stuff would tick up should he be needed to come out of the bullpen long-term.” He has worked almost exclusively as a starter in his pro career to date.
Davidson will be opposed by Astros lefty Framber Valdez, who allowed five runs in two innings in Game 1. The Braves won Game 4 on Saturday to take a 3-1 series lead. Here’s how you can watch Game 5 on Sunday.
