The Atlanta Braves knew they had a big challenge in Game 1 of the NLDS. Facing the Dodgers is always a monumental task, but even more so when it's a bullpen game. Add a bad home plate umpire to the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster. Having to throw two bullpen games in a row during the postseason isn't an ideal position for any team. But it's less fun when your team has a pitching depth problem.
Dylan Dodd did an amazing job opening the game, as he completed three scoreless innings with two hits and four strikeouts. That's more than Walt Weiss probably expected to get out of his southpaw. Unfortunately, Victor Maderos and AJ Smith-Shawver didn't have the same luck. Both pitchers combined to allow all five runs scored by the Dodgers on Saturday. All five runs came via home run.
Maderos was lifted after he could only record one out in the fourth inning. AJSS checked in from that point, and he looked decent through the fifth inning. However, Weiss made a grave mistake in the sixth inning and let Smith-Shawver remain in the game too long.
Braves manager Walt Weiss made an all too familiar mistake and it cost them in Game 1
Freddie Freeman lined out for the first out of the inning, but it was squared up, and it took a nice play by Ha-Seong Kim to get the out. Teoscar Hernandez then smoked a ball to center field that was almost 107 mph. That should have been Weiss' cue to remove AJSS from the game. Especially with Kyle Tucker coming to the plate and Max Muncy lurking two batters later. Unfortunately, Weiss left him in too long, and the Dodgers made him pay.
Tucker hit a two-run homer, and Muncy tagged AJSS with a solo shot. It's something Braves fans hoped they'd see less of with Brian Snitker out of the picture. Something he often struggled with was bullpen management and, in particular, leaving guys in too long and seemingly punting very winnable games..
Smith-Shawver finished out the inning, and then Brent Suter pitched two scoreless innings to end the game. Suter probably should have replaced AJSS and faced the two lefties instead. But that didn't happen, and the Braves have to hope they win Game 2 to tie the series back to Atlanta.
This is the risk teams run when utilizing a bullpen game. Someone isn't going to have their best stuff that day, and it will bite you eventually. Weiss has to do a better job the rest of the series at recognizing when it's time to pull a pitcher. Otherwise, this series won't last very long.
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