Strider Shines As Atlanta Braves Even Series With Phillies

The Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies got together for game two of a three-game set at Citizen’s Bank Park on Tuesday night.

After suffering a tough loss Monday night, the Atlanta Braves looked to get back in the win column on Tuesday in Philadelphia.  It was not going to be an easy task as the Phillies sent Aaron Nola to the mound to try to wrap up a Philadelphia series win.

The Braves countered with Spencer Strider who was looking to bounce back from a tough outing his last time out against the Washington Nationals.  Despite the subpar outing the last time that he took the mound, Strider has had a fantastic first few months of his rookie year and should get National League Rookie of the Year votes at the season’s end.

Spencer Strider continued his successful rookie campaign against the Phillies tonight, breezing through their lineup twice with virtually no stressful pitches.  Strider was in control from pitch number one and the offense provided him with six runs of support.  And while Will Smith did his best to let the Phillies back into this game in the ninth inning, Kenley Jansen would come on to bail Smith out and lock down Brian Snitker’s 500th career win.

The Atlanta Braves used a varied offensive attack and dominant starting pitching to beat the Phillies 6-3 on Tuesday night.

Brian Snitker is one of the truly great stories in baseball.  A man that was a career minor leaguer in the Braves organization before getting his chance to manage in the majors came along.  And when that time came in 2016, Snit seized the opportunity and made the most of it.  If there is a man that defines patience and loyalty in a world where these virtues are at times hard to find, it is Brian Snitker.

Atlanta got Snit his 500th win by using a varied offensive attack that included home runs from Michael Harris II and Matt Olson and a continued red hot month of July from Austin Riley.  Riley collected two more doubles tonight and will be in serious consideration for National League Player of the Month for July.

The good work of the majority of the Braves lineup continues to highlight the struggles of both Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuna, Jr.

The Braves broadcast team alluded to it during the game and the time to move Ronald Acuna, Jr down in the lineup to help ease some of the pressure he may be putting on himself as a leadoff hitter may be upon us.

Brian Snitker has not been shy in the past about moving players up and down the lineup based on performance, and it may be time for Snit to consider this for Ronald as well.

Whether this will “fix” whatever is ailing Acuna, Jr. remains to be seen, but at this point what is best for the Atlanta Braves as a team is to have Dansby Swanson and Austin Riley getting as many at-bats a game as possible.

A move down in the lineup may take some pressure off of Acuna and spark something in him.  There is an old adage that says the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.  And that feels like where we may be at with Ronald in the leadoff spot at this time.

The aforementioned Spencer Strider was the story of this game.  For the fourth time this season, and the fourth time in his past six starts, Strider completed six innings.  The young phenom continues to progress and impress and whether he stays in the rotation or ends up back in the bullpen as the season progresses it is clear that Strider will be an important piece of the Atlanta pitching staff down the stretch in whatever role the Braves brain trust deems fit.

As the month of July winds down and we head towards the August 2nd trade deadline, it should be a fun week for baseball fans as more teams than ever are looking to improve their rosters with this year’s expanded playoff field.  It will be interesting to see how active the Braves are at the deadline and what the asking price will be for a number of free agent targets.

The Braves and Phillies will conclude their series Wednesday afternoon in Philadelphia as Charlie Morton and Kyle Gibson lock horns in the rubber game of the set.  First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 pm EST.