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Braves pitcher Dylan Lee far removed from World Series spotlight this spring

AP photo by David J. Phillip / Atlanta Braves starter Dylan Lee pitches against the visiting Houston Astros in Game 4 of the World Series last October. Lee became the first pitcher to make his first MLB start in a World Series game. He recorded only one out and exited with the bases loaded, but the Braves went on to win the game and the World Series.
AP photo by David J. Phillip / Atlanta Braves starter Dylan Lee pitches against the visiting Houston Astros in Game 4 of the World Series last October. Lee became the first pitcher to make his first MLB start in a World Series game. He recorded only one out and exited with the bases loaded, but the Braves went on to win the game and the World Series.

By CHARLES ODUM / The Associated Press 4 min read

VENICE, Fla. – Dylan Lee quickly agreed when asked to switch jersey numbers this spring, taking a new No. 89 because his old 74 is also newly signed closer Kenley Jansen’s number.

“I’m pretty easygoing,” Lee said Friday. “I said I was more than happy to give it to a guy like Jansen.”

Lee could have protested. After all, is this any way to treat a World Series starting pitcher?

Five months later, the Atlanta Braves’ decision to give Lee the ball for Game 4 of the Fall Classic against the Houston Astros is still shocking.

After losing veteran starter Charlie Morton in the World Series opener to a broken leg, the Braves’ staff was thin. They already had lost Huascar Ynoa, who was scratched with shoulder inflammation in the National League Championship Series, where the Braves beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. The loss of Ynoa opened a roster spot for Lee.