Braves Can’t Gain Ground Against Mets in Split Double-header
The Atlanta Braves start a 5-game series with the New York Mets with a doubleheader on Monday.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Atlanta Braves enter the most important series of the season thus far against the first place New York Mets, starting with a double-header on Monday.
The Braves seem to be in a sort of limbo as they enter this series, not really showing signs of good or bad since the All-Star Break, staying at an even 4-4 since then, continuing to show signs that nothing has really changed from the team we all saw in the first half of the season.
Same old, same old.
There have been some positives since the All-Star Break when it comes to starting pitching with Touki Toussaint making his first couple appearances of the season and showing major signs of improvement, Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies continuing to heat up, or Joc Pederson bringing some much needed pop from the left side of the plate.
Then, there’s still the bullpen… my, oh my, the bullpen.
There are many questions to be asked when thinking of the trade deadline, which is July 30th (Friday of this week).
This can be viewed as a good or bad thing for the Braves, who, like I stated a bit ago, are still in a limbo.
The importance of this series with the Mets stands with the fact that the Braves can either be fully out of the NL East race, fully in the NL East race, or stuck in the same position (the potential of being an extra game back or closer still stands), by the end of this series.
Five games gives the Braves a much-needed chance to really get themselves back into the position everyone expected them to be in before the season began.
The Braves win three or four of these five games, they are within a game or two of 1st place (but let’s hope they sweep and stand tied at the top at the end of this series). This means they could buy!
If they win one or two games, then they kind of put themselves either in the “out of it” club or “stuck in the mud” club and could potentially choose to sell or do nothing at the trade deadline.
With the scenarios sort of spelled out, how did the Braves fair against the Mets at the start of this important series?
The Braves take Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Mets, 2-0, after an excellent start from Kyle Muller.
The offense had a pretty good seven innings today, if you look at the hit total that is… 10 hits for the Braves in Game 1, but only managed to produce 2 runs at the end of the day.
Thankfully, the Braves pitching was excellent and allowed the Braves to stay on top of the Mets from the 3rd inning on.
Joc Pederson had an RBI double in the 3rd, an inning in which the Braves threatened to put on much more than just one run, but to no avail. Of course, the Braves hit themselves out of those run-scoring opportunities to end that particular inning.
In the 4th, an Orlando Arcia groundout scored Dansby Swanson for the second run of the game and then the Braves were bested by Marcus Stroman after that.
Although, the Braves did manage to tally 10 hits and score 2 runs, it didn’t seem like a game to be particularly confident in (from an offensive standpoint). Yes, they got the job done, but with 10 hits in 7 innings, you gotta at least score more than 2 runs… Right?
Anyway, Kyle Muller had a great night against the Mets in Game 1 of the doubleheader, earning his second win of the season.
Muller finished with 5.0 IP, giving up 4 hits, allowing 2 walks, and striking out 3. The most important part of his stat line was not allowing a single run. He got himself into some potentially scary situations along the way, but managed to pitch around them to relative ease, which was a good sign!
Tyler Matzek also had a great appearance tonight, having a perfect inning in the sixth, which can only improve his confidence going further as it had not been very good of late. He tallied one strikeout in the inning, but more importantly, he didn’t walk anyone!
Finally, Will Smith closed it off for the Braves in the seventh as the Braves earned their 49th win of the season.
With the win in Game 1, the Braves inch closer to that dreaded line they have seemed to be allergic to all season… the .500 line.
Could the Braves get to .500 with a win in Game 2?
The Braves drop Game 2 of the doubleheader against the Mets, 1-0.
Well, the Braves gave themselves a chance a couple of times in the game, but just could not seem to get it done.
The offense cooled a little too much this time around and failed to put a run on the board with the biggest threat coming in the 6th inning after a Pederson single and Albies walk. This eventually led to a Freeman fly out (which was so close to a three-run shot) and an Austin Riley double play.
A total of 4 hits by the club tonight just could not get it done and it really shouldn’t be expected to with how this season has been going.
This offense is bad, no matter how you look at it. Whether it is how the lineup is constructed or which players are being used or even which players are even still on the roster, it’s just bad.
The bottom half of this lineup is just a wasteland that seemingly become automatic outs. It is worrisome, but this has been prevalent all season so it shouldn’t be all that surprising.
Gotta give it to the pitching staff once again today as they all showed up to play and keep this team in the game.
Bryse Wilson got the start tonight and would complete 3.0 IP, giving up 4 hits, with 1 walk, and 2 strikeouts.
Like his teammate in Game 1, Wilson did not allow a run… but he did begin to fall apart in the 4th before Jesse Chavez came in to save the day, clearing the next three batters and preventing the Mets from scoring.
Although Wilson began to falter a bit in the 4th, it was still promising to see him post three clean innings. I’d imagine Wilson could potentially be a pretty good reliever? Not an original thought of course, but how about the Braves give it a shot.
Unfortunately, Luke Jackson would give up the first one in the 5th, causing it to be the only blemish on the night, but that would be enough for the Mets, whose pitching staff put on a show. Jackson would finish giving up 2 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, and tallying 1 strikeout.
Have to give credit to Sean Newcomb as well, who entered in the 6th and pitched a clean inning, throwing a lot of strikes, which was very promising (of course it was just one inning).
All in all, the Braves win one and lose one. Gaining nothing in the standings.
Next. 3 Up & 3 Down. dark
There are three games left in the series and depending on the outcomes of those three games, the Braves season remains in the balance. It is sure to be a very interesting few days as the Braves seemingly control their own destiny (in a semi-dramatic way).