Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: 1st 2 weeks exactly as expected, right?

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DENVER, COLORADO – APRIL 09: Starting pitcher Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves throws in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 09, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Veteran Stuff

The starters have been excellent over the past week, too. Sure, the Marlins were mixed in, but this ‘last 7 days’ also fails to account for much of a Cubs’ series in which Atlanta starters allowed 0, 1, and 0 runs.

Starter’s ERA rank (majors): 4th best
Starter’s walk rate: 7th best
Runners stranded rate: 4th best
Homer-to-Fly Ball ratio: 9th best
Innings pitched: 42 (most in majors)

So that decision to go with the kids are eschew the previously stated desire to get a trade done for a frontline starting pitcher? Apparently the Braves didn’t need one… at least in this isolated week, that’s the case.

Yeah – I get it: getting the Cubs, Marlins, and Rockies in quick succession was probably great for Atlanta since all three of these clubs are now a combined 9-25 on the year.

Aside from the Marlins, the Cubs/Rockies were supposed to be good… like ‘threats to win their own division’ good. Yet Atlanta went 4-1 against them. This may be Exhibit 1A in the “it’s not who you play but when you play them” argument… and we’ll take it.

Still, this 4-1 record against the Non-East will be important. Last season, Atlanta could hardly buy a ‘W’ against the Central and West divisions: instead, they trounced the East.

That probably won’t happen again since the NL East is so much better in 2019… so a 4-1 start outside the division is excellent, and exactly what we need to see happen for the season.

Not Hitting their Stride

I almost forgot to look at the offenses, so these numbers that follow are up-to-date as of Thursday morning.

The Braves are getting crazy-high contributions from certain parts of their lineup (Swanson/Freeman/Flowers/Albies/Markakis), almost nothing from other parts (Inciarte/Donaldson), and schizoid numbers from one (Acuña).

Swanson is looking like a whole new hitter and that’s pretty awesome to see. If he keeps this up, he might see himself bumped up in the lineup a slot or two.

Don’t look now, but if you look at fangraphs’ WAR, Swanson is tied with a large group for Top 20 in baseball (0.6)… and his defense isn’t the biggest contributor to that number.

I’m still not overly concerned about Donaldson… he will get there in due course. The reason for this belief involves his health: his defensive work tells me immediately that his legs are fine, and that foundation is the key to his hitting. Heck, he’s probably still a bit out of sync with himself after having to adjust late last year to not being 100%. Once all of that gets caught up together… watch out.

As for Ender Inciarte, this has all the earmarks of another slow start for him. I think I’d have Albies leading off until he finally comes around… perhaps with Swanson hitting 6th, Inciarte 8th. That feels about right.

Overall, the pitching is ahead of the Braves hitting… which does suggest that there’s still more that this team can show.

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