Atlanta Braves Show Fight Against Dodgers, Look to Build Against Reds

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Braves returned home this past weekend for a series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That team is often called the best money can buy, and it’s hard to argue with it. They always seem to land the big names. Their roster is filled with All-Stars and future Hall of Famers. But all the hype in the world doesn’t matter once the game starts. Like I always say, the games still have to be played.

Now I know Atlanta dropped two of the three, but if you really watched the series, you saw a team that didn’t look overmatched. Friday night, Grant Holmes went out and delivered a big-time performance. He allowed two runs to one of the best lineups in baseball, while striking them out nine times in five innings. That is not something to criticize. That is something you take every time out. If your reaction is that Holmes should have pitched better, you probably don’t need to be talking sports. He gave the Braves a real shot. The offense didn’t do much of anything against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but let’s be honest, he’s elite. No shame in running into a guy like that.

Saturday night was tough to really evaluate after the three-hour rain delay before the first pitch. While there are really no excuses, and I hate to sound like I am making any, it threw everything off, and you have to wonder if Schwellenbach would have been somewhat better if the game had been played under normal circumstances. He didn’t have his best stuff and couldn’t find his spots. But as Brian Snitker pointed out, he’s learning how to adjust and deal with adversity. That’s all part of it. I know that response isn't pleasing to some of the fans, but logically you can't argue with it.

Also, this Braves team is still missing two major pieces. One of those is Spencer Strider, who they are hoping to get back at some point soon. His presence is missed in the rotation, no question about it. But the group that is out there now is grinding. They are trying to carry that weight. And even if it’s not obvious to the casual eye, they are improving every time they take the ball. This is not the NFL where you only get 17 games. It’s a long season, and we’re still early in it. A lot can change between now and September.

Sunday was a strong response. Bryce Elder came out aggressive and struck out Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman to start the game, much like Holmes on Friday. That set the tone. Elder ended up going five innings and allowed just two runs on four hits with six strikeouts. He stayed composed and gave the Braves exactly what they needed.

Austin Riley brought the offensive firepower needed, that Atlanta had missed the prior two nights. He blasted two two-run homers and drove in all four of Atlanta’s runs. That was the difference in the game. Riley finished the series 5-for-12 with two homers and four RBI. He’s had his share of up-and-down moments this season, but overall he’s still one of the Braves’ most steady bats. When he’s locked in, he changes everything. Speaking of steady, Ozuna and Olson continue to find their way on base, even when it doesn't seem like it. We have all been so accustomed to Marcell Ozuna hitting home runs, that we forget that getting on base is what really matters in the long run. Ozuna is still walked at a high rate, and Matt Olson is as well. They put together some of the most patient at bats we've seen, maybe sometimes a little too patient.

After the win, Riley reflected on what makes baseball so unpredictable. “You’re not always going to be the best team on paper. It takes crazy games sometimes, and anything can happen. That’s the beauty of the game. It’s not always the best team that wins — it’s the one that executes, gets the timely hits, plays good defense, and pitches.”

Snitker echoed that message. “You know, we didn’t win a series, but this is a big win for us. Just to show that we can play, and that we’re a good team too.”

The Braves might not have taken the series, but they stood their ground against one of the best. That matters, and that’s something to build on.

Now it’s on to Cincinnati, as the Braves open a four-game series at home starting tonight at 7:15 PM EDT. Atlanta needs to keep building on the strides they’ve made over the last couple of weeks. This series with the Reds is a good opportunity to do just that. Cincinnati comes in averaging just over five runs per game, while the Braves have been allowing a little over four per game, which lines up with their season average. Outside of Saturday night's rain-delayed mess against the Dodgers, Atlanta’s pitching has held pretty strong lately. Over the last seven games, they’ve allowed right around four runs per game. That’s a trend they’ll look to build off of and hopefully improve.

Tonight they will bring Brady Singer to the mound to face the Braves. Singer is 4-1 with a 3.24 ERA, 36 strikeouts, and a 1.08 WHIP. Singer is 2-0 on the road, allowing around 4 runs a game on the road as well. His last time out against the St. Louis Cardinals, he tossed 6.0 innings of 1-run ball on just two hits and took his first loss of the season. The Reds bullpen ultimately let that game get out of hand, as they went on to lose 6-0.

Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds in several hitting categories, including 25 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, and 24 runs scored. He also tends to strike out a good amount, with 41 on the year in 134 at-bats. De La Cruz is batting .269 with a .771 OPS this season.

On Wednesday, Atlanta is scheduled to face Hunter Greene, as he is scheduled to take the mound for Cincinnati. Greene is 4-2 on the year with a 2.53 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 42.2 innings pitched. His WHIP of 0.82 is impressive, and the Braves' offense could face challenges against him. Greene relies heavily on his four-seam fastball and slider, with his fastball averaging 99.2 mph. He has demonstrated excellent command, making him a formidable opponent.