Takeaways as Atlanta Braves get back on track with 3-2 win over Cubs
By Steven Teal
1. The Braves pitching staff didn’t break
Max Fried has stumbled a bit in his last few starts and has struggled with command. He still had a small amount of trouble on Tuesday night but seemed to work out of any issues he may have been having. Max only needed 7 pitches to get through the first inning.
However, he ran into a bit of trouble in the second inning as he walked the bases loaded.
Somehow, Fried was able to work out of that thanks to a baserunning blunder by the Cubs. Javier Baez was picked off by Josh Donaldson when he tried to steal home.
Donaldson then fired the ball to Dansby Swanson who was covering the third base bag to tag out Willson Contreras, which would complete the double play and end the inning for Chicago.
The Cubs gift the #Braves with a huge break as they run themselves out of a bases-loaded situation in the second inning. @Braves still hold a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/giC8O7e9Pk
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) June 26, 2019
Fried finished 6 innings of work allowing just 2 earned runs on 2 hits while walking 5 (4 unintentional, 1 intentional) and striking out 8 batters.
When he gained command of his fastball, the curveball was devastating for Cubs hitters. The curveball had a lot of depth to it and saw a lot of swings and misses. Let’s hope this gets Max back in a groove.
After a tough first month or so of the 2019 season, Atlanta Braves fans didn’t see a lot of success out of the bullpen. Fortunately, those tides have changed a bit for the Braves.
They currently have the third best bullpen in the National League and sixth best across all of Major League Baseball with a 3.78 ERA.
#Braves bullpen now boasts the third-best ERA in the National League (3.78). Entering play today that was good for sixth best in the Majors.
— Kevin McAlpin (@KevinMcAlpin) June 26, 2019
Since adding Anthony Swarzak on May 22, the Atlanta pen has posted an MLB-best 2.67 ERA over that span.@680TheFan https://t.co/nA4XESreD6
A lot of that success came after acquiring Anthony Swarzak in a trade with the Mariners for Arodys Vizcaino and Jesse Biddle.
All they have done is post a 2.67 ERA since he was added to the Atlanta bullpen.
The graphic above shows just how great he has been since joining the Atlanta Braves pitching staff. After a scoreless frame in the 8th inning, Swarzak’s ERA since joining the Braves now sits at 0.54 in 16.2 innings pitched.
Opponents are hitting .127 against him and he has struck out 20 batters allowing just 1 earned run. He may be one of Alex Anthopolous’ best acquisitions yet. I have a feeling he will only get better from here.
Sean Newcomb continued his excellent work out of the bullpen as he went 1 inning while striking out 2 batters. He did allow 2 singles in the bottom of the 8th but Swarzak bailed him out.
Luke Jackson came on for the 9th inning and saved his 12th game of the season. Jackson had been struggling a little bit as of late but that wasn’t the case Tuesday night. Jackson pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the 9th while striking out 2 batters.
That was the most locked in I have seen the bullpen yet. If the Braves can get 6-7 innings out of their starters each night, they’ll have no problem shutting down games.