If you like great pitching matchups, you’re in for a humdinger tonight as Max Fried takes on Aaron Nola. Fried has been in the league for 8 years, while Nola is in his 10th. I took both pitchers first 8 years in the league to see how they compared:
- Aaron Nola: 203 G, 1228.1 IP, 3.60 ERA, 3.28 FIP, 4.23 K/BB rate, 78-62 record
- Max Fried: 160 G, 831.2 IIP, 3.12 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 3.47 K/BB rate, 69-33 record
While we love Max, there’s no denying the data. I think everyone would take the extra 397 innings at a 3.60 ERA rate (that would likely be lower should Nola had pitched somewhere outside of Philly). For 2024, Nola has a slightly better ERA than Fried, but it’s about as good of a matchup that you’ll see across MLB tonight.
Braves Lineup
We saw Jorge Soler get a PH appearance last night, but apparently he’s not healthy enough to do much running. With Austin Riley on the shelf, the Braves really need his bat back in the lineup.
Ugh Max hasn’t been good lately and now this lineup
Minter had hip surgery and is out for the season.
If the pitching holds up, Marcell can carry this offense on his back.
Uh oh. It’s going to be that kind of night for Jimenez.
They are getting really good swings on him so far
Urshela’s looking like Brooks Robinson at the hot corner tonight.
At the game. Gio can pick it. Arcia taunted Harper after the homer, I really wish he could play for some other team. He drives me crazy.
Bad time for the occasional Jiménez bad game.
Jimenez isn’t fooling anyone. He has wet the bed a few times this season when we needed him to produce.
I’ve never seen Jimenez be good. I mean I’m sure he has been, I guess. But to me he gets hit hard every time
Murphy reminds me every night he plays we got absolutely piped on that trade.
7-8-9 coming up in the ninth.
Yikes. If you’re at the game, get a jump on traffic and leave now.
Get ’em tomorrow, fellas.
The new white flag instead of Aaron Bummer…Luke Jackson
This lineup is just awful. Gonna take a miracle to make the wildcard. Oh well. Go Braves.
The Phillies got three runs on three outs. Now THAT is frustrating.
Offense as bad today as it has been all year. Can’t blame Jimenez if there was no runs scoring by the braves Whose genius idea was it to put cast off merrifield batting 2nd?
Personally, I hate having Harris leadoff. He doesn’t get on base enough. His 0-5 hurt us.
I would rather that they bat Merrifield leadoff and move Harris down in the order.
At least there’s this:
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5713518/2024/08/20/mets-orioles-little-league-defense/?source=user_shared_article
Yeah, it is kinda weird to be hitting the guy with the .324 OBP leadoff simply because he’s the fast, left-handed center fielder. Feels like a very 1990’s move.
Against the lefty tonight, they definitely need to hit Merrifield or even d’Arnaud in the lead off spot.
Is this that crazy against LHP:
Merrifield
d’Arnaud
Ozuna
Soler (if healthy)
Laureano
Olson
Arcia
Urshela
Harris
Recapped.