The Atlanta Braves are locked into a tight race with the New York Mets for the final NL Wild Card spot, with neither team willing to budge. While the Braves held ground in the win column last night against the Blue Jays, the Mets walked-off the Reds in extra innings.
Although the Braves came away victorious last night, they weren't able to escape without another injury occurring.
Merrifield X-Rays negative on left foot
The Braves fill in second baseman was inserted back into the lineup last night and batted second for Atlanta. Merrifield had missed the last couple of games after a scary HBP against Colorado. Merrifield wasn't back for long as he exited last night's game after fouling a ball off his foot.
Luckily, the X-Rays Merrifield got last night came back negative. However, that doesn't mean Whit will be right back in the lineup tonight, as it's likely Snit elects to give Luke Williams the start in order to give Merrifield an extra day of rest.
Ozzie dealing with discomfort on left-handed swing
Fans got a somber update on second baseman Ozzie Albies yesterday as reports indicated Albies is still feeling discomfort when swinging left-handed. Obviously, this isn't what the Braves wanted to hear as the team was hoping to get Albies back sometime this month.
It's starting to sound more like Albies could be sidelined the rest of the regular season. When Snitker was asked about Albies exclusively hitting right-handed, he replied with "that kind of decision is up to the player."
Fried extends Braves' rotation record
The Braves rotation just keeps chugging along and last night was another masterpiece. This time it was Max Fried, who had everything working to keep the Blue Jays lineup off balance.
Fried finished with seven innings of one-run ball while punching out eight Toronto hitters. That start extended the Braves impressive record with starting pitchers allowing three runs or fewer in now 25 consecutive games. Over those 25 games Braves starting pitchers have a 2.68 ERA, 2.65 FIP, 29.9 K%, and 4.4 fWAR via Fangraphs. All of which rank best in Major League Baseball.
It is the longest single-season streak by a team since the mound was moved to it's current distance all the way back in 1893. Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach will have a chance to move that streak to 26 games tomorrow night as he squares off against the Blue Jays for the first time in his young career.
Braves starting pitchers have now allowed 3 runs or fewer in 25 straight games
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 7, 2024
that extends their longest single-season streak since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893
h/t @EliasSports