ATLANTA -- Mired in a rough stretch in which he's allowed a combined 25 runs in his last four outings, the Braves demoted young right-handed Matt Wisler to Triple-A Gwinnett.
The move came after he allowed seven runs -- six earned -- in Atlanta's 7-5 loss to the Phillies on Thursday. That included back-to-back home runs in the first inning, the first time the 23-year-old had allowed consecutive homers in his short career.
"I didn't pitch very well last month in a half," Wisler said. "I definitely know I've earned that demotion. ... I've got to go take it, go fight and try to earn my way back up."
Wisler is 4-11 on the season with a 5.16 ERA, statistics that have ballooned over the last 10 outings as he went from having a 3.16 ERA and six home runs allowed in his first 11 starts of the season to a 7.44 ERA and 16 home runs over 55 2/3 innings.
In a July 3 starts vs. the Marlins, he was tagged for a season-high 10 hits in an 8-3 loss to the Marlins at Fort Bragg, then followed by allowing six runs in three straight games against the White Sox, Reds and Rockies. That run was punctuated by his struggles vs. the Phillies, who led 4-0 in Thursday's series opener before the Braves had recorded an out.
Following a leadoff walk to Cesar Hernandez and an Odubel Herrera single, Maikel Franco and Tommy Joseph went deep -- shots of 430 and 426 feet, respectively. Aaron Altherr then singled and Carlos Ruiz walked as Philadelphia's first six batters reached safely.
"Tonight was not good," Wisler said. "I can't have that kind of outing. I kind of made improvements last week (he allowed five runs on eight hits vs. the Rockies) and took a step back today. I've got a lot of work to do."
Triple-A, where Wisler made 12 starts last season before joining the Braves' rotation in June, will at least offer him a chance to work through his problems in what he deems a pressure-free environment.
"I can come in and get my work in and not care about the results as much," he said. "Up here you've got to try and win ball games; down there, if I give up four runs because I'm trying to work on something, I don't really care."
Chiefly, he'll be working on his issues pitching out of the stretch. Teams have hit .322 against him with runners in scoring position and .308 with at least one man on base. A year ago, when Wisler was 8-8 over 19 starts, he was limiting opponents to .216 with RISP.
"The biggest thing for me is the mental state, obviously, has to be better," Wisler said. "Pitching from the stretch, I think a lot of times I feel pretty good in the windup, I get in a groove. If I get guys on base, I struggle to limit that damage."
Following that breakout 2015, Wisler's first in the organization after he was acquired from the Padres in the pre-Opening Day deal that sent Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton Jr. to San Diego, he was seen as a main building block in the rotation. While, as interim manager Brian Snitker said "sometimes you've got to take a step back to take two forward," the Braves may have had no choice but to allow Wisler to find his rhythm again with a change of scenery.
There was no immediate word as to how the Braves will fill Wisler's spot in the rotation, and with Lucas Harrell being traded to the Rangers, Atlanta has just three starters locked in, with right-hander Tyrell Jenkins going Friday vs. the Phillies and All-Star Julio Teheran on Saturday, and Mike Foltynewicz, who pitched in Wednesday's win in Minnesota.
Righty Rob Whalen -- who suffered his first loss for Gwinnett on Thursday after allowing just one earned run in six innings with eight strikeouts and three walks, and fellow right-hander Aaron Blair -- two earned runs over his last 13 innings in Triple-A -- are the most logical options to fill those spots.
Follow Cory McCartney on Twitter @coryjmccartney and Facebook. His book, 'Tales from the Atlanta Braves Dugout: A Collection of the Greatest Braves Stories Ever Told,' is out now, and 'The Heisman Trophy: The Story of an American Icon and Its Winners' will be released Nov. 1, 2016.
