<img alt="Milwaukee Brewers v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CP5_q9d9FZR2w4KqE5hYZgFtzDk=/0x0:6036x4024/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73515430/2165395080.0.jpg">
Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images
We should have been celebrating the Braves’ offense but instead we are mourning another brutal series loss. It feels like we have talked about hitting “rock bottom” in this space for several weeks now but the Atlanta Braves continue to find new ways to lose games at the most inopportune time. The Braves were cruising towards a series win Sunday in Colorado with an 8-2 lead that suddenly evaporated in a seven-run eighth inning. In the past we might just write that away as just baseball, but for a team that is fighting to stay in playoff position, Sunday was a loss that simply can’t happen.
Sunday’s loss doesn’t mean that the season is over. But if they ultimately come up short of a spot in the postseason, then it is going to hurt even worse. As I pointed out in this space last week, the Wild Card race in the National League is so tight that anytime the Braves lose, someone is making up ground. Case in point: the San Francisco Giants who are now 1.5 games back of the final playoff spot after winning four straight before losing on Sunday.
Time to find the best roster and stick with it
The Braves announced their starters for their upcoming series in San Francisco and will go with their scheduled pitchers on normal rest. While it may be necessary to give someone an extra day between now and the end of the season, Atlanta needs to simply go with the players that give them the best chance of winning. Brian Snitker even said after the game that “it was go time” for the rotation.
That needs to apply to the bullpen as well. Luke Jackson came over in the trade for Jorge Soler in large part to help balance out the salaries in the deal. The Braves have given him an opportunity to show that he belongs in the pen but it simply hasn’t worked out. Jackson has made four appearances since the trade and has allowed runs in three of them. In 5 2/3 innings, Jackson has allowed 10 hits and six runs. He entered Sunday’s game in the eighth inning with an 8-2 lead and retired just two hitters while allowing four hits and four runs.
That wouldn’t matter that much if the Braves didn’t have better options available, but they do. Dylan Lee and Daysbel Hernandez are both currently pitching at Gwinnett. The only reason that either is still at Gwinnett is that they both have options. Lee’s case is borderline criminal as he has been one of the team’s best relievers over the last three seasons. Lee has a 2.00 ERA and a 3.09 FIP in 35 appearances at the major league level this season. Hernandez has allowed one earned run in 11 innings at the major league level.
If it is time to go for the rotation, then it is certainly that time for the bullpen.
Spencer Schwellenbach continues to impress
The Braves gave Spencer Schwellenbach eight days between starts before he took the mound on Sunday. He wasn’t the sharpest we have seen, but he was good enough and again gave the team a chance to win. He allowed two runs and struck out seven over six innings while throwing 96 pitches Sunday. His consecutive innings streak without a walk came to an end at 27. Over his last six starts, Schwellenbach has 45 strikeouts and just three walks.
Not bad for a guy who skipped Triple-A completely and wasn’t seen as a Top 100 prospect by most outlets coming into the season.
Jorge Soler finds his footing in the thin air of Coors Field
The Braves needed Jorge Soler to get going and he certainly did that in the three games in Colorado. Soler homered in every game of the series, including a pair on Sunday. He was 7-for-13 and drove in nine runs. He is now 11-for-37 with six walks and 12 strikeouts in 10 games since the trade.
Marcell Ozuna chasing history
Marcell Ozuna saw his three-game streak with a homer end in Sunday’s game. He’s put together a banner season and is chasing history. Ozuna is currently second in the National League in hitting at .301. He is tied for the NL lead with 35 home runs and leads the league with 90 RBI. There hasn’t been a Triple Crown winner in the National League since Joe Medwick in 1937. Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera had the last Triple Crown season in 2012 for the Tigers.
Ozuna is also looking to become just the fourth Braves player in franchise history to have back-to-back 40 homer seasons. Andruw Jones did it back in 2005 and 2006. Hank Aaron had 40+ homers in 1962 and 1963. Eddie Mathews turned the trick in three consecutive seasons in 1953, 1954 and 1955.
The Braves are writing a wretched fairy tale, in ink, black as despair
That’s it, that’s the takeaway. Stay tuned!
<img alt="Milwaukee Brewers v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CP5_q9d9FZR2w4KqE5hYZgFtzDk=/0x0:6036x4024/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73515430/2165395080.0.jpg">
Photo by Kevin D. Liles/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images
We should have been celebrating the Braves’ offense but instead we are mourning another brutal series loss. It feels like we have talked about hitting “rock bottom” in this space for several weeks now but the Atlanta Braves continue to find new ways to lose games at the most inopportune time. The Braves were cruising towards a series win Sunday in Colorado with an 8-2 lead that suddenly evaporated in a seven-run eighth inning. In the past we might just write that away as just baseball, but for a team that is fighting to stay in playoff position, Sunday was a loss that simply can’t happen.
Sunday’s loss doesn’t mean that the season is over. But if they ultimately come up short of a spot in the postseason, then it is going to hurt even worse. As I pointed out in this space last week, the Wild Card race in the National League is so tight that anytime the Braves lose, someone is making up ground. Case in point: the San Francisco Giants who are now 1.5 games back of the final playoff spot after winning four straight before losing on Sunday.
Time to find the best roster and stick with it
The Braves announced their starters for their upcoming series in San Francisco and will go with their scheduled pitchers on normal rest. While it may be necessary to give someone an extra day between now and the end of the season, Atlanta needs to simply go with the players that give them the best chance of winning. Brian Snitker even said after the game that “it was go time” for the rotation.
That needs to apply to the bullpen as well. Luke Jackson came over in the trade for Jorge Soler in large part to help balance out the salaries in the deal. The Braves have given him an opportunity to show that he belongs in the pen but it simply hasn’t worked out. Jackson has made four appearances since the trade and has allowed runs in three of them. In 5 2/3 innings, Jackson has allowed 10 hits and six runs. He entered Sunday’s game in the eighth inning with an 8-2 lead and retired just two hitters while allowing four hits and four runs.
That wouldn’t matter that much if the Braves didn’t have better options available, but they do. Dylan Lee and Daysbel Hernandez are both currently pitching at Gwinnett. The only reason that either is still at Gwinnett is that they both have options. Lee’s case is borderline criminal as he has been one of the team’s best relievers over the last three seasons. Lee has a 2.00 ERA and a 3.09 FIP in 35 appearances at the major league level this season. Hernandez has allowed one earned run in 11 innings at the major league level.
If it is time to go for the rotation, then it is certainly that time for the bullpen.
Spencer Schwellenbach continues to impress
The Braves gave Spencer Schwellenbach eight days between starts before he took the mound on Sunday. He wasn’t the sharpest we have seen, but he was good enough and again gave the team a chance to win. He allowed two runs and struck out seven over six innings while throwing 96 pitches Sunday. His consecutive innings streak without a walk came to an end at 27. Over his last six starts, Schwellenbach has 45 strikeouts and just three walks.
Not bad for a guy who skipped Triple-A completely and wasn’t seen as a Top 100 prospect by most outlets coming into the season.
Jorge Soler finds his footing in the thin air of Coors Field
The Braves needed Jorge Soler to get going and he certainly did that in the three games in Colorado. Soler homered in every game of the series, including a pair on Sunday. He was 7-for-13 and drove in nine runs. He is now 11-for-37 with six walks and 12 strikeouts in 10 games since the trade.
Marcell Ozuna chasing history
Marcell Ozuna saw his three-game streak with a homer end in Sunday’s game. He’s put together a banner season and is chasing history. Ozuna is currently second in the National League in hitting at .301. He is tied for the NL lead with 35 home runs and leads the league with 90 RBI. There hasn’t been a Triple Crown winner in the National League since Joe Medwick in 1937. Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera had the last Triple Crown season in 2012 for the Tigers.
Ozuna is also looking to become just the fourth Braves player in franchise history to have back-to-back 40 homer seasons. Andruw Jones did it back in 2005 and 2006. Hank Aaron had 40+ homers in 1962 and 1963. Eddie Mathews turned the trick in three consecutive seasons in 1953, 1954 and 1955.
The Braves are writing a wretched fairy tale, in ink, black as despair
That’s it, that’s the takeaway. Stay tuned!
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