When the Atlanta Braves struck a deal for starting pitcher Erick Fedde on Sunday evening, it was not the type of trade Braves fans have grown accustom to in late July over the last eight years. Instead of bringing in that piece that could push them to front runners for the championship, Erick Fedde was brought in for one reason: to eat innings.
In a cruel twist of fate, a Braves starting rotation that looked to be one of the strongest in baseball has completely dissolved. In four months, the club somehow managed to lose every single member of the Opening Day rotation to the 60-day IL, forcing them to find any living pitcher with a pulse to just get them through the season.