What would have likely happened is that Stras gets 2 starts, Gio 1, and Det zero. Det to the bullpen in place of Gonzalez or Gorzellany, I guess. Stras would not have done better than Det, and Gio's first start was fine, but game 5 maybe plays out a little differently.
At the time, I had complete faith in Gio for 2 starts and thought Det could handle his start well enough not to shut Stras down. I also am glad they did not handle him like Medlen. The Braves could have used a few more of Medlen starts instead of saving them for the divisional round of the playoffs that they did not make because they had to play in the WC game. That was my comments at the time, and I still feel this way.
Maybe the better pattern of usage was Sale's, but of course Sale's team did not make the playoffs. All those saved bullets in his arm due to Don Cooper being smarter than everyone else did the White Sox a lot of good.