The Atlanta Braves are implementing a unique strategy in navigating through a grueling 162-game schedule.

Instead of depending on a standard five-man pitching rotation, the Braves have tried utilizing a six-man rotation, which has included calling up Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep from Triple-A.

The idea was simple; preserve starting pitchers for the home stretch of the season, even if it costs them a start or two over the course of the season. It will preserve their arms for the part of the season that matters the most to Braves fans — the postseason.

We saw this a couple of weeks ago when Waldrep, a former Thomasville High standout, was called up to start his first game with the Braves against the Washington Nationals. This came despite Waldrep having made just one start at Triple-A Gwinnett. Though Waldrep’s control and outing were shaky (he was placed on the injured list following his second start), his presence allowed the Braves brass to assess his capabilities while also giving Max Fried a couple of extra days off.

It is a similar scenario that has played out this season with the Braves, who are still in need of a dependable fifth starter; an asset they haven’t had since Spencer Strider was lost for the season only a couple of starts into this year.

Schwellenbach was called up in late May to replace AJ Smith-Shawver, who was sidelined with an oblique strain. He has pitched six innings in each of his last two starts, which included a win on Tuesday against the Tigers. He may be that fifth starter the Braves can count on, though the sample size remains quite small.

It is unlikely that the likes of Chris Sale, Charlie Morton and Reynaldo Lopez are each going to make 30 starts this year. Their histories and ages suggest they will be sidelined at some point. But if you’re a Braves fan, would you take 25 to 27 starts if it meant not losing them for longer stretches of the season? Absolutely.

It takes some maneuvering amongst management to allow rest for starters at points in the season while getting a look at the future, and at the same time, not falling out of the postseason race. The divisional race is all but over. But the Braves have been there and done that.

Their focus is on getting past the Phillies in the playoffs. They can only do that with a rested rotation and timely hitting. This approach will hopefully have the pitching set up to be rested come October. The offense still needs to continue to come around.