Danny Young will be given the ball to open Sunday's game against the Cardinals, a notable step for Atlanta as he is set for his first MLB start. The plan points to a short outing, with Young expected to work only an inning or two before JR Ritchie takes over for bulk relief.
What Atlanta are asking of Young
This is not a traditional starting assignment, but it is an important one. Atlanta will use Young in the opener role, asking him to begin the game and help set the tone before the heavier innings are passed on to Ritchie.
For Young, it is the kind of assignment that reflects trust in his recent work since coming back from injury. He was reinstated on July 3 after a season-opening stint on the injured list, and since then he has handled four relief appearances without any major setback.
Recent form since July 3
Since July 3, Young has struck out three while allowing one earned run on two hits and one walk across 3.1 innings. Those numbers do not represent a large sample, but they do show a pitcher who has been used carefully and has been effective enough to stay in the mix.
The expectation that he will work only one inning or two on Sunday also matters. It suggests Atlanta are not looking for Young to stretch deep into the game, but rather to give them a controlled start before the bullpen plan shifts to Ritchie.
Why this matters on Sunday
Opener usage is always about matchups, timing and flexibility. In this case, Atlanta are using Young in a role that puts him at the front of the game, while still building the rest of the pitching plan around coverage from behind.
That makes Sunday a significant moment for Young. Even if the outing is brief, it will still count as his first MLB start, and it gives Atlanta a chance to see how he handles a different kind of responsibility against the Cardinals.
