3 Takeaways from Atlanta Braves BIG comeback win against the Nationals
The Atlanta Braves took advantage of the Nationals bullpen implosion to make it a 5.5 games ahead of the Phillies in the NL East
It looked like it was going to be one of those games where whenever the Atlanta Braves would pull closer, the Washington Nationals would add more runs to distance themselves…but plot twist! The Braves pitching managed to hold it down while the offense just kept grinding to complete a full comeback.
Saturday’s game was another prime example of how the team doesn’t quit and will never be “out of it,” showing that they can always pull off magic before the final out. It was also another case of how deep and dangerous this lineup is: Josh Donaldson went 0-5, yet they won 13-9.
There has been plenty of games like that lately where one guy can (sadly) go hitless while the offense still explodes. It’s probably a sucky feeling for that player but the offense can still cover for them.
The Braves were on the verge of doing the same during Friday’s game during the 9th inning but just couldn’t pull it off. However, it was a different story for Saturday and these are the three takeaways from the big win.
3. Mike Foltynewicz Remains Inconsistent
Though the Atlanta Braves made the comeback win on Saturday, it wasn’t all glory from the pitching side. The arms eventually settled down for the offense to pass the Nationals but they did allow nine runs.
Mike Foltynewicz completed only four innings and was tagged for eight of those runs (two came after he left the game).
With runners at the corner, he was pulled and replaced with Jerry Blevins. Blevins then gave up a sacrifice fly and back-to-back singles to give the Nationals an 8-4 lead in the fifth.
Foltynewicz has yet to find a rhythm of consistency in 2019. He’s shown teases of his pre-injury dominance but then would throw balls way off the zone or give up homers during his outings.
Brian Snitker was already on the verge of pulling Folty before the fourth inning in Saturday’s game with Josh Tomlin warming up.
However, Folty’s inconsistency made the decision difficult, as he got through the second inning almost easily with two strikeouts. The commentators even mentioned it when he got through a 1-2-3 fourth inning. He allowed two runs during a Juan Soto triple in the third but got the final two outs quickly also.
The Braves had already pulled back to make a one-run game during the top of the fifth off of Freddie Freeman’s single to deep right to score Ronald Acuña Jr. and Dansby Swanson. But Folty couldn’t hold on to it, giving up three straight singles in the bottom fifth before being taken out.
Brian Snitker and the Braves can really only give Foltynewicz so many chances to redeem himself before pulling the plug on trying to get him back to his 2018 form.
Unlike Kevin Gausman, Folty was injured to start off the season so it’s not like an “experiment over” type of situation. I’m not saying he can’t “click” at some point in 2019, but it’s a very risky strategy to throw him out there and rely on the offense to score a dozen+ points every game.
UPDATE: More on this subject coming shortly.
2. Freddie Freeman Remains Underrated
The offense was again led by their unofficial captain Freddie Freeman who turned in a five-RBI game with two hits and two walks. Swanson challenged Freeman’s night with four RBIs of his own but it was Freddie’s bases-clearing double that plated the three runs to tie the game.
It also completely changed the momentum of the game. The Nationals broke the tie the next inning but the Braves were already on a whole different level by then – overwhelming the Nationals the rest of the way.
However, back to Freeman: he’s having ANOTHER MVP-caliber season, yet barely anyone besides Braves Country is talking about it.
Last night during the post-game analysis, Nick Swisher literally said the Braves need to appreciate having Freeman on the team yet its been only his teammates and Braves fans that’s been giving him praise.
There’s been more talk in the baseball world of Bryce Harper and WHY he’s struggling.
With last night’s performance, Freeman is now batting .318 with 21 home runs and 61 RBIs. He’s also tied the franchise record of most consecutive games with at least a RBI at 10 which was set by Sid Gordon in 1951 (from those Boston days).
During the post-game interviews, Swanson said about Freeman, “He’s so good.”
#Braves' Swanson on Freeman: “He’s so good. You can just write that, quote that: ‘He’s so good.’ There’s nothing else really there is to say about it. Hits the ball to all parts of the field, lefty, righty, it doesn’t matter who’s pitching. It’s…it’s amazing.”
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) June 23, 2019
Now in the Starters Election Round, Freeman possibly could be a starter again for this year’s All-Star game. For years, Freeman has not only been underrated as top first baseman but an underrated player in general defensively and offensively.
1. A 5.5 Game NL East Lead
Not that long ago, it seemed like every time the Braves would win a game, the Phillies would too and it just looked like the Braves would never get ahead in the standings. Now, it seems like they are running away with it.
With a dangerous line-up with power and consistency up and down, an imploding Nationals bullpen and faltering Phillies offense, the Braves now have a five-and-a-half game margin.
#Braves hit two more homers tonight, giving them 42 in the month of June, the most in the Majors.
— 680 The Fan (@680TheFan) June 23, 2019
Anything can change once the second half of the season starts but as of right now, the Braves are hot and they’ve been hot for over a month now so it’s not like a out-of-nowhere adrenaline boost.
The Braves are just dominant and every guy in the lineup can do damage, which is why they have a guy in top three at every position for the All-Star voting. Plus, it looks like they’ll be having at least two starters for the game.
Our own Alan Carpenter asked an intriguing question in one of his recent articles about how long until the Nationals pass the Phillies for second place in the NL East —and be a threat to the Braves. An article from the Washington Post added to it too, mentioning how (before their implosion on Saturday) the Nats were playing “their best baseball” of the season and were getting close to .500.
If the Braves keep up this offense which has included winning by taking the lead first, by doing comebacks, doing improbable comebacks, blowouts and extra inning walk-offs, they will run away with it.
However, to be fair, their recent opponents have been mostly teams that are third place or below in the standings:
- Mets (4th-NL East)
- Phillies (2nd-NL East)
- Pirates (5th-NL Central)
- Marlins (5th-NL East)
- Tigers (4th-AL Central)
Even in the second half of May, when they faced the Cardinals who are third in NL Central and the Giants who are fifth in the NL West. However, during recent hot run, they haven’t won games against division leading teams like their upcoming schedule against the Cubs.
So it’s been relatively easy. Though they won the May series against the Brewers, they were swept by the Dodgers.
Luckily after their series against the Cubs, they’ll end the first half against the Phillies, Mets and Marlins again. So by the All-Star point, the Braves could build an even bigger led in the division.
Next. What Is The Plan For Forgotten 1st Rounder Kolby Allard. dark
On Sunday, the Braves will try to take the series with Mike Soroka on the mound against Austin Voth, who was called up for Sunday with the release of Trevor Rosenthal.