What To Expect: Aaron Blair

The Braves, struggling to find effective starting pitching until their stacked farm system blooms, have called up their No. 3 prospect, righthander Aaron Blair.

Blair, acquired along with top prospect Dansby Swanson in the deal that sent Shelby Miller to Arizona, was 3-0, 1.42 for Triple-A Gwinnett, with 22 strikeouts and five walks in 19 innings. Blair seemingly cemented his callup with seven no-hit innings against Durham on Tuesday. He struck out 10 and walked one.

Blair hasn’t allowed a run since the sixth inning of his first start of 2016, pitching 13 consecutive scoreless innings. Beyond Matt Wisler (0-1, 3.10), Braves starters have struggled, allowing about five runs a game with an adjusted-ERA+ of 86.

Blair has zipped through the minors since becoming Marshall’s highest-drafted player as the 36th overall pick in 2013. He was chosen for the call-up over Mike Foltynewicz, who in September had surgery to remove half a rib after being hospitalized because of blood clots in his right arm.

Blair will make his major league debut Sunday against the Mets.

SCOUTING REPORT

Blair leads his arsenal with a heavy fastball that ranges 91-95 mph. With good, downward plane, the pitch allows him to keep balls on the ground—and in the park. It has proven difficult to hit the ball out of the park against Blair, who has allowed just 28 long balls in 382 innings as a pro. Blair also throws an 11-to-5 curveball, a presently average pitch that he will throw early in the count for strikes, and a slurvy slider he uses more as a chase pitch.

But the key to Blair’s success is a changeup that he’ll throw in any count to any batter. A present plus offering, the change ranges from 81-84 mph with good fade. Blair shows plus command, filling up the strike zone.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound righthander is athletic for his size and repeats his delivery, projecting as a workhorse with a knack for going deep into his starts.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The Braves removed Williams Perez from the rotation, so there’s clearly room for Blair if he succeeds. Atlanta will jumpstart Blair’s Super Two clock with the promotion, but with an eye at competing as soon as 2017 with the opening of SunTrust Park, that might not be a concern.

There’s no guarantee Blair will remain in Atlanta, but if he does, he can provide strikeouts (8.3 strikeouts per nine innings as a pro) and a fine WHIP (1.15 career) for fantasy players.