<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Washington Nationals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/97c5eyob6i0OPzFSqzAl_5lypU8=/0x0:6303x4202/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73617749/2171244600.0.jpg">
Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images
The Braves had just about an ideal day Friday, and now they will hope to continue taking care of business against a potentially less motivated Royals squad. The Braves had just about an ideal day Friday, and now they will hope to continue taking care of business against a potentially less motivated Royals squad. Obviously Atlanta won, but also the Twins lost, meaning that the Royals clinched their playoff spot. That may mean that the Royals change their pitching plans from Seth Lugo today and Cole Ragans tomorrow (who are both very good) to significantly less intimidating options. They also may choose to give some of their regulars a day off.
Elsewhere, the Mets lost and the Diamondbacks lost, putting the Braves level with the Mets on record and ahead of the Diamondbacks by one loss, just inside of the wild-card picture. The Braves are in a fairly strong position now to make the playoffs and hopefully to avoid burning their pitching staff chasing wins in Monday’s doubleheader, but there are still many things that need to happen, namely the Diamondbacks and Mets continuing to lose and most importantly, the Braves continuing to win.
Reynaldo Lopez makes his return from an IL stint he took due to shoulder inflammation. He had another IL stint not long before this most recent one with forearm tightness. Given that this is his first season back as a starter after pitching out of the bullpen for a while, some issues were to be expected. Hopefully these IL stints gave him an opportunity to rest and be his best self again. Lopez has a remarkable 2.03 ERA over the 128.2 innings he has pitched this season, with a slightly less remarkable but still good 3.58 xFIP and 3.07 FIP. His slider has really gotten the job done for him, with quite good placement and impressive vertical break. He also has had good success with his fastball, with some strong rise and solid velocity. It’s been a real vindication of the experiment by the Braves to sign him and specifically have him pitch as a starter, a move many were skeptical of. That 3 year $30 million contract with a club option on the end sure is looking like a bargain now.
I won’t go into Seth Lugo with depth now, due to the strong possibility of him no longer actually starting this game, but if he does, he is a good veteran pitcher who wins with command and ground balls. He has a ton of pitches, but generally unimpressive movement and velocity to them.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, September 28, 7:20 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: Bally Sports Southeast
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
XM Radio: Ch. 181
<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Washington Nationals" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/97c5eyob6i0OPzFSqzAl_5lypU8=/0x0:6303x4202/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73617749/2171244600.0.jpg">
Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images
The Braves had just about an ideal day Friday, and now they will hope to continue taking care of business against a potentially less motivated Royals squad. The Braves had just about an ideal day Friday, and now they will hope to continue taking care of business against a potentially less motivated Royals squad. Obviously Atlanta won, but also the Twins lost, meaning that the Royals clinched their playoff spot. That may mean that the Royals change their pitching plans from Seth Lugo today and Cole Ragans tomorrow (who are both very good) to significantly less intimidating options. They also may choose to give some of their regulars a day off.
Elsewhere, the Mets lost and the Diamondbacks lost, putting the Braves level with the Mets on record and ahead of the Diamondbacks by one loss, just inside of the wild-card picture. The Braves are in a fairly strong position now to make the playoffs and hopefully to avoid burning their pitching staff chasing wins in Monday’s doubleheader, but there are still many things that need to happen, namely the Diamondbacks and Mets continuing to lose and most importantly, the Braves continuing to win.
Reynaldo Lopez makes his return from an IL stint he took due to shoulder inflammation. He had another IL stint not long before this most recent one with forearm tightness. Given that this is his first season back as a starter after pitching out of the bullpen for a while, some issues were to be expected. Hopefully these IL stints gave him an opportunity to rest and be his best self again. Lopez has a remarkable 2.03 ERA over the 128.2 innings he has pitched this season, with a slightly less remarkable but still good 3.58 xFIP and 3.07 FIP. His slider has really gotten the job done for him, with quite good placement and impressive vertical break. He also has had good success with his fastball, with some strong rise and solid velocity. It’s been a real vindication of the experiment by the Braves to sign him and specifically have him pitch as a starter, a move many were skeptical of. That 3 year $30 million contract with a club option on the end sure is looking like a bargain now.
I won’t go into Seth Lugo with depth now, due to the strong possibility of him no longer actually starting this game, but if he does, he is a good veteran pitcher who wins with command and ground balls. He has a ton of pitches, but generally unimpressive movement and velocity to them.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, September 28, 7:20 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: Bally Sports Southeast
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
XM Radio: Ch. 181
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