Please Hammers don’t hurt ’em. The Braves jumped on the Rockies for 9 runs in the first 3 innings, then went into mercy mode the rest of the way to take their 3rd straight game in the series, their 5th in a row overall, and the 12th of the last 14. It would be unfair to this offense to even mention such a thing as hibernation mode today.
Connor Seabold started for Colorado and the Braves could most definitely touch this, and that, and some other things, and that there over yonder. Seabold lasted 3 innings, allowing 9 hits, 9 runs, and 4 homers.
Matt Olson‘s grand slam with one out in the bottom of the first would have been enough, but what’s the fun in that? Ozzie Albies hit a solo homer in the 2nd, and Eddie Rosario and Orlando Arcia went back to back in the 3rd. Arcia had 3 hits and stole his first base of the season.
Bryce Elder went 6 innings, allowing 4 hits including a solo homer by Mike Moustakas, and struck out 4. Elder’s ERA stands at 2.60.
The bad news of the day is that Sean Murphy had to come out of the game in the 3rd inning after tweaking a hamstring. He walked off under his own power and is being evaluated.
The Rockies are literally a wounded team, with Charlie Blackmon, C.J. Cron, Brandon Rogers, and Kris Bryant on the IL, among others. But realistically, would any of those guys even be able to start for the Braves? A 45 – 26 record without Max Fried and Kyle Wright for extended periods would seem to indicate “no.”
Nothing 10 runs won’t cure.
The Braves go for the series sweep Sunday at 1:35 Eastern; Charlie Morton and Chase Anderson scheduled.
Sunday Game Thread
Charlie Morton takes on Chase Anderson. Chase was a promising young starter when he entered the league and stayed a mid-rotation starter through his age 31 season, then the wheels fell off. Oddly enough, he’s been rejuvenated in the one place that pitchers go to die: Mile High. Hopefully the Braves can pull a Mortal Kombat and finish these suckers with the spine pull.
Transaction a Day AA
Charlie Culberson doesn’t even get a sympathy inning in his stint. I’m guessing he’ll take his assignment back to Gwinnett then get recalled at some point. The Braves are playing a fairly risky game plan today as bringing up the much need catcher also means there’s no room for error in the infield as Culberson was the only backup infielder on the team. Travis D’Arnaud has played both 2B and 3B in the past so I guess that could be the plan. Kolby Allard getting back in the action sounds like a blessing for a thin rotation. I hope they’ve been working with him down at the FCL.
Braves Lineup
10 games away from the season midpoint, the Braves are on pace for 269 homeruns. This would obliterate the team record of 235 by the 2003 Braves. The NL record of 279 by the 2019 Dodgers is within reach.
Would JonathanF be willing to tell us what percentage of our runs are the result of the HR? The season record is 59.7% by the Reds in the small sample fluky Covid season. Other than that it seems to be 53.2% by the BlueJays in 2019. They also have the next highest season at 53.1% in 2010.
Remember when I used to say that the Braves would never get gud (for you youngs) until they started hitting HRs? Yeah that.
The key to willing baseball is HR rate and K% from your pitchers. Most else is noise.
Sorry, BraveMarine — no can do…. at least not without a lot of work. My stats, which come from Retrosheet, are only updated at the end of the season. For current season stats, I can use Stathead, but runs on homers is not something you can search.
I was at the game yesterday. From the right field corner, Olsen’s slam looked like it had escape velocity. It was truly a sight to behold.
Atlanta now has the best record in the NL ( 2 games better than the D’Backs). They are only 4.5 game behind the Rays for the best record in baseball. Considering Tampa Bay’s blistering start, this is remarkable.
As noted, it is incredible that Atlanta is doing this without arguably their 2 best starters. How many of you guys were predicting a starting rotation of Morton, Strider, Elder, Schuster, and Smith-Shawver before the season started? Their bullpen has also been questionable and hit by quite a few injuries. They seem to be rounding into shape with 3 runs over their last 18.2 innings (5 games – 1.48 ERA). If we get a few bullpen pieces back, add a high impact reliever via trade, and Wright and Fried return (and even possibly a dominant Soroka), we may not lose in August and September.
Elder was himself Saturday, spinning it effectively against a AAA lineup, but spinning it just the same. He located fairly well and allowed just the one home run to Moose. And the offense…man. Several more balls hit at 110+ and at least a half-dozen between 100 & 110…simply fun to watch. The lowlight, if you are a Rox guy, would have to be Arcia stealing a base…rumor has it, when they test his speed every spring, they use an hour glass.
Tromp up, Culberson DFA’d. The Braves will try to make it through Sunday without a backup infielder (something they’ve accomplished every day since Culberson came up,) then figure out their next move on Tuesday.
Rosario is the emergency backup IF. He came up as a 2b, but hasn’t played that in a long time, and based on his below average outfield play would probably be a vaudeville act in the IF.
As an early Austin Riley supporter, I think they will be regretting his extension , if they’re not already.
He always goes through his slumps and adapts, but it has been slow going this year.
This will also serve as today’s game thread. Because I don’t want to cut any writer’s work off so quickly, any time we have a day game after a night game, I’ll likely continue this trend.
Of course, guys. We’ve been destroying this team all week and suddenly, for the game I have to recap, Morton can’t locate anything and Arcia has decided he’s playing soccer today.
You spoke too soon, Nick. I think they spotted them five just to make it interesting. But five wasnt
enough.
Riley is in need of…I don’t know… SOMETHING!
Winning or not, I think we need another lineup shake-up. Swapping Albies and Olson was brilliant since Ozzie is himself again. I think Riley needs to be moved down, too. I’d propose the following (without Murphy):
Acuna
Albies
Arcia
Olson
Riley
Rosario
Ozuna
d’Arnaud
Harris
With Murphy back, I’d go more:
Acuna
Albies
Arcia
Olson
Murphy
Riley
Rosario
Ozuna
Harris
I think the three spot needs more on base and base hits and raw power with a lot of swing-and-miss can go lower.
Can we play Colorado everyday?
What the bottom of this lineup is doing is nothing short of amazing. Ozuna, Rosario, Arcia, Harris are ON FIRE.
Hard to lose when you hit three 3-run HRs in one game…
The Rox are gonna be plenty happy to get to Hartsfield.
What a game. Eddie now over .800 OPS and MH2 very close to .700.
Riley will be fine.
The ultimate Earl weaver game!
Amazing. 12 runs and only 1 hit from Acuna, Riley, d’Arnaud, Olson. Granted they have 5 walks but still…..
Oh, I agree that both Riley and Olson are or will be fine but I hope a lineup change could jump-start Riley.
It could.
As in “Rockies. Who’s your daddy?”
Considering all the blather over the winter, Ozuna and Rosario over .800 OPS. And now MoneyMike is over .700. What a great offensive team.
I sure hope this carries over to the Phillies and Reds.
Heller is looking the part. Holy smokes!
Tampa DFA’ed this guy?!?
The Braves scored in every inning but the first. Because of course.
I think Michael figured out whatever he needed to figure out. Goodness gracious Lord have mercy.
Braves offence with 18 hits and 7 walks. Braves pitching with 15 strikeouts. What a fun game to watch. Down 5-0, you just didn’t feel this game was over. This team!
Heller feels like ’21 Matzek to me.
I was a little surprised to discover that while only 115 players have had a 6-hit-or-better game (and for those that enjoy trivia, only four players have had two such games) there are 1473 players with 5 hits or better. Congrats to the latest member of the club: MH II.
Braves are getting into “good problem” territory with the addition of Ben Heller.
Dylan Lee and Jesse Chavez will need a spot. Max Fried and Kyle Wright will need a spot. Kolby Allard, who’s starting his rehab, will need a 40-man spot. Things will really start to get interesting and AA has weaved a sticky roster web.
Well, some of those guys aren’t close yet to returning. (Fried, Wright, Lee) They just opened Culberson’s spot, and nobody cares about Danny Young. Probably not much about Allard either.
A well-earned day off… now let’s smack down the Phils, the only team that’s as hot as the Braves now. Would be nice to get Strider back on track.
JonF:
I looked it up. I knew Kirby Puckett, but Doc Cramer kinda escaped me.
Interestingly, Ty Cobb had 6 hits in a game once… and he hit 3 HRs that day in ’25. Surprising.
Of all the old-time guys, probably him & Rube Waddell are the ones I would’ve liked to see play on a regular basis.
I would’ve loved to see Wagner, too.
This is how good we can be. And that’s frigging….good! Still it’s a long season. Just enjoy.
Both the Phillies and Reds are the hottest teams in baseball. No matter what it says on paper, these next six games will be a challenge.
Braves outscored the Rockies 40-12 in the series. A sweep and a 7 run/game avg margin of victory. Wonder if any of that is some sort of team record? Not that many 4 game series sweeps for starters.
Yacksel Rios was traded today because he had a clause in his contract that he’d have had to be added to the active roster tomorrow.
Those would be tough numbers to top.
I do remember a pretty good Rockies team came into Atlanta in ’18 & swept a 4-game series.
And here is an internet rabbit hole for MLB sweeps: https://mlbsweeps.com/
Wow!
I was at the game today. It was a lot of fun watching the bottom of the order tee off on the Rockies’ pitching staff.
I guess Heller will fill Yacksel’s role – made Yacksel unnecessary.
Recapped: https://bravesjournal.com/2023/06/19/braves-bludgeon-rockies-14-6-to-complete-four-game-sweep/
I just could not be more impressed with how well this organization is ran. We have the scouting & development that rivals the Rays but we have a high payroll, great manager, and great coaching staff. Oh, and we have almost our entire team locked up. If you’re a state of Georgia sports fan, it’s hard to be happier than you are.
I say no on shaking up the lineup, personally. The lineup is so deep that it just doesn’t matter if you hit a bump in the middle of the order. The back of the lineup has been nothing short of extraordinary, so just keep everybody comfortable and don’t jack them around. Crazy that now for the season Ozuna and Rosario have a higher OPS than Riley, but it’s a long season, and Ozuna and Rosario are paid plenty as well. Ozuna is paid to be a middle-of-the-order bat and he’s finally being that, so just take it. The fact that we can afford to pay this many guys to be middle-of-the-order bats doesn’t mean you’re constantly tweaking the lineup when one of them is in a slump.
Surprised that the Braves were able to get Heller from the Rays. This is now a couple times where we’ve been able to pick somebody off from such a smart org (d’Arnaud).