Atlanta Braves: Is It Time to Give Julio Teheran His Shot?

Mike Minor had another shaky start for the Braves on Monday against the Reds, as he gave up four solo home runs in six innings of work.

After his fifth straight game in which he gave up four or more runs, one has to wonder, is it time to send Minor down to Triple-A and call up Julio Teheran?

Now, I know the arguments that by taking Minor out of the rotation, you no longer have a left-hander in the rotation. But just like the Braves did with Jair Jurrjens, can you really afford to send Minor out there every fifth day, not sure if he's going to go five or six innings?

Although he went six innings on Monday, it was shaky there for a while.

I do like the fact that Minor has 48 strikeouts this season, but I want to see more out of him. I want to be able to have confidence in him going out there every fifth day. Right now, I don't have that confidence, and I'm more apt to go with Teheran, even though that will put a fifth right-handed starter into the rotation.

Currently, Teheran is 3-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 29 strikeouts at Triple-A Gwinnett. While his numbers may not be impressive this year, I still have to look at what he did last year—and that's why I believe he's ready to be on the big league roster.

Teheran was 15-3 with a 2.55 ERA and 122 strikeouts last year, getting a call-up at the end of the season for three starts.

Minor will be in the Braves' rotation for many years to come, but the Braves are leading the National League East, and it's time for them to put their foot on the gas pedal. The best way to do that is to have five starters that you are confident in who can go six or seven innings each start, giving the Braves a chance to win every game.

Jurrjens started the year with four bad starts. Minor has strung together five bad starts.

It's time to send him down and bring Teheran up. Doing so will help the Braves as they try to make the playoffs in Chipper Jones' last season.