- The Braves are playing extraordinary baseball and are 12-2 in their last 14 games played.
- The Phillies are also playing extraordinary baseball and are 12-2 in their last 14, as well.
- The Mets are 3-11 in their last 14 games. This thread has nothing to do with them, but just wanted to remind you all that that suck both on and off the field.
The Braves enter today’s matchup 4.5 games in front of the Marlins for the division and have the best record in the NL and the 2nd best in MLB behind the Tampa Bay Rays.
Braves vs. Phillies Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Spencer Strider vs. Ranger Suarez
Game 2: AJ Smith-Shawver vs. Aaron Nola
Game 3: Bryce Elder vs. Taijuan Walker
Michael Harris II Wins NL Player of the Week
Michael Harris II was OPS’ing .490 on June 6th. For the next 12 games, he went nuts and carried a 1.305 OPS and raised his season OPS to .709.
Braves Lineup
Sean Murphy is still, but I dig this lineup. Make Magic happen, fellas.
Question for the Game Thread
What do you feel is the biggest need going into the trade deadline, and who would you like for the Braves to realistically target?
It is always good to be reminded that the Mets are Metting at a prolific rate! You love to see it…thanks!
And your game thread question is a good one, Ryan. I wonder if there is a closer out there. I saw the St. Louis closer throwing 103.7 the other night but don’t think they will ever truly sell. Another closer would allow Raisel to move back…Other than that, we good at the moment.
You’d think it would have to be a bullpen piece right? But I wouldn’t rule out a move for a veteran starting pitcher, as I’m not sure how much we can rely on Fried and Wright this season. Especially Wright, who I will be surprised if he comes back and pitches effectively.
MLB.com (Feinsand) thinks that the Braves will pursue Jack Flaherty. That would not be a bad add. I am still hopeful the Braves will make a play for Aroldis. We need a lefty and he’s pretty cheap and he’s resurgent. I think of him as a lefty Kenley.
I think the Braves have done well to find starters from within – Elder, AJSS, Shuster. They all have potential and can eat innings and will make for a good mix next year.
Both sound good. Chapman especially seems like an obvious fit.
Yeah, pitching is clearly the biggest need. Both starting and relief.
RAJ nearly pulled a fast one there; I also thought that flyball was gone based on his body language, but he caught it short of the warning track and fired to first and it was honestly a pretty close play.
Relief, yes. A closer, sure, and probably a starter (Marcus Stroman?)
I definitely believe Aroldis Chapman will be available & he is tempting. I’ve seen him a lot the last several years & he’s had some real control yips & extended “episodes” in recent seasons where you just couldn’t bring him in at all… but he seems alright this year. (I sound like Mr. Pink talking about Mr. Blonde.)
I always viewed Aroldis as a bit like a left-handed Armando Benitez. He can be otherworldly, but he sure has given up some crushing HRs when the lights were brightest.
EDIT: Nice work, Spencer.
Looks like an extra day of rest did Spencer some good.
I wonder what the change in run expectation is for a play that moves from runners on first and second, no out, to runner on first, two out. Has to be like nearly two runs?
Based on the results in 2022, the average result from runners on first and second, no out, was 1.4 runs, and for runner on first, two out, .2 runs. I was a little low, but that was still a play that changed expected runs down by 1.2, which is pretty huge in a scoreless game.
Source: https://www.pitcherlist.com/adjusting-for-the-current-run-expectancy-matrix/
Can’t remember the last time I saw a 6-4-5 doubleplay…
Time for some runs, fellas.
That should be all for Strider. He’s laboring now and is up 91 pitches through 5 innings.
But he is going back out there.
Glad to see this strong start by Strider. Going back to Ryan’s question, I think a starter is more important than a back end reliever—although of course it would help to get both. I love what Elder and to a lesser extent Shuster and now Smith-Shawver have done so far, but I’d hate to count on all three the rest of the way. Getting Fried back healthy is the single best thing that could happen.
So far, Mr. Hoffman ain’t exactly foolin’ ’em here…
I want us to go all in for 1 or 2 relievers. Stroman is having a good year, but I don’t know if we have the prospect capital to get him.. Also, if Soroka, Fried, and Wright get well, we’ll have a huge logjam for starting pitchers. I guess Fried will ask for more, but I would still rather pay $21 million per year for Fried than give up a bunch of prospects for Stroman.
If Rosario and Ozuna keep mashing, I don’t see a big need for an outfielder or DH. Hilliard and Pillar are also very capable backups. Of course, betting on Ozuna and Rosario to keep up what they’ve been doing may be a little risky.
I would agree that we need pitching help. I think it’s more needed in the bullpen than the rotation.
I hate this with the way Iglesias has been pounded the last few times.
Schwarbunt? Danke…
Stroman has an opt-out, so the Cubs may not be able to command as much as they think. He’s in a prime position to be moved, but I hear you… I can’t imagine we’d be the most desperate club lining up for him.
EDIT: Man, Olson crushes some baseballs.
That’s why Hilliard needs to be the defensive replacement. Eddie giveth and taketh away
It looks like Bad Raisel. Get someone up, Snit.
Whew! Made the pitches when he had too
What a great win against a very hot team. Suarez has always been a problem for the Braves and we hung in there long enough with good Strider. Minter is back on as a 7th inning guy. Things just seems to be falling together. I just think getting Lee back and acquiring a big lefty reliever would seal the deal. A short term bet on Aroldis makes a lot of sense if Matzek comes back next year. I like McHugh as the long reliever and that leaves Jimenez, Yates, Heller, and Tonkin for middle relief and mop-up. When Lee comes back, one will have to go and if we get someone like Aroldis, another will have to go, Unless we go back to three or four starters. I think Fried will replace Shuster. What happens when Kyle is ready to come back? We can still deal from pitching to get Aroldis or Flaherty or someone.
Oh yeah, and then there’s Uncle Jesse.
If AJ Smith-Shawver continues to pitch well, I imagine Charlie Morton may have an IL stint in his future. He has not been great, IMO, and is our fourth or fifth starter right now…little to no room for him when Kyle is back.
Unjustifiably belated recap is up.