Most believed that the Reds were going to be a very dangerous Wild Card team to face because of their starting pitching. Trevor Bauer, Luis Castillo, and Sonny Gray. The Braves never had to face Gray as they dispatched the Reds in two. But it wasn’t easy. The Braves needed to go 13 innings before Freddie Freeman had a walk off single to beat the Reds 1-0. The Reds outhit the Braves 11 to 6, and had multiple opportunities to push a run across earlier in the game. Bauer did his part with striking out 12 in 7.2 innings. Raisel Iglesias, Lucas Sims, and Michael Lorenzen followed, striking out 9 Braves in 4.1 IP. Archie Bradley, who I have never cared for, allowed singles to Nick Markakis and Austin Riley to open the 13th. Christian Pache PR for Markakis with his best Terrance Gore impression. After inducing Acuna to hit into a force out, Amir Garrett replaced Bradley, and Freeman on a 1-2 pitch delivered the walk off single. 21 Braves were struck out by Reds pitching. While the Reds pitching was excellent, it was more than matched by the Braves. Max Fried pitched 7 shutout innings and was followed by seven relievers in the final 6.0 innings. Overall the Braves pitchers struck out 16 Reds. That was a total of 37 Ks. That must be a record, right? Yes!!
In Game 2, the score was knotted 0-0 before Ronald Acuna hit a two out double to score Austin Riley. This was on a pitch where Castillo allegedly wanted to throw a change, but Tucker Barnhart wanted Castillo to throw his slider. Again allegedly without conviction, Castillo threw the slider and Acuna whacked it for an RBI double. All the scouting books in the world cannot convince a pitcher what he believes is the best pitch to throw in that spot. If there is a question, get out of your crouch, go talk to the pitcher, and come to a consensus. But do not force the pitcher to throw a pitch he may not want to. The Braves scored 4 in the 8th on a pair of two run HRs by Marcell Ozuna and Adam Duvall off Iglesias to break the game open. Braves pitching was excellent again, with Rookie LHSP Ian Anderson throwing 6.0 shutout innings with 9 Ks. The top three relievers (Will Smith, Chris Martin, and Mark Melancon) finished off the Reds with three perfect innings. There were 26 total strikeouts in Game 2. The Braves had 9 hits, 3 by Acuna. The Reds had 2.
Glass half full or glass half empty? Was it the superior Reds pitching or the questionable Braves offense that had the offense sputtering except for one inning?
The NLDS series with the Cinderella Marlins figured to be heavy advantage for the Braves. Except the Fish had a trio of impressive young pitchers of their own: Sandy Alcantara (25), Pablo Lopez (24), and Sixto Sanchez (22). In Game 1, Alcantara more than held his own against CY candidate Max Fried. Alcantara entered the 7th with a one run lead (4-3), but gave up a pair of singles from the first two batters: Austin Riley and Ronald Acuna. That was enough for Donny Baseball, and he brought in Yimi Garcia (who had a very good year) to try and squash the rally. After getting Freeman to hit into a force out, leaving runners on 1st and 3rd with one out, Garcia surrendered a single to Ozuna tying the game at 4 apiece. Next batter was Travis d’Arnaud, and on a 2-0 pitch he hit a 3-run HR to give the Braves their first lead since the 1st inning. Ozzie Albies delivered a single on a 3-2 pitch and that was it for Garcia. The Marlins new pitcher, James Hoyt, was greeted on his first pitch to Dansby Swanson with a 2-run HR. Offensive star was d’Arnaud who was 3-3 with 2 walks and 4 RBIs. Fried last 4.0 innings, giving up 4 runs on 6 hits. Game 1 was the first time in the 2020 post season that Atlanta was scored on, and it would be the last. That was not a typical Max Fried outing, and it would be wishful thinking if we Dodger fans expect him to have another similar outing. Fried figures to be Game 1 pitcher on Monday.
In Game 2, LHSP, Ian Anderson, fresh of his previous 6.0 shutout IP 9 K outing, went 5.2 shutout IP, allowing 3 runs, 1 walk, and 8 Ks. Anderson allowed a one out single to Jon Berti, struck out Jesus Aguilar, and his day was done. Enter Darren O’Day, who promptly hit Brian Anderson and walked Garrett Cooper before getting Matt Joyce to ground out, ending the threat. Tyler Matzek (who is becoming a favorite of mine), “The Other” Will Smith, and Mark Melancon each pitched a perfect inning to close out the game. For the Marlins, RHSP Pablo Lopez pitched a good 5.0 innings allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, but left the game losing 2-0. The Braves had four hits including another Dansby Swanson HR, while the Fish had 3 hits.
If the Fish had any fight left in them, this was the game that they were looking for. The Braves were sending out RHSP Kyle Wright while the Marlins were countering Sixto Sanchez. The Marlins are not really upset at all with the Realmuto trade, as they received a decent catcher (former #1 catching prospect), Jorge Alfaro and future Ace Sixto Sanchez (22) in return. JTR would not have been of much help in 2020, and he would have been gone. The Marlins made it in some not so small part due to Sixto Sanchez. I think the Phillies are wanting this trade back.
Kyle Wright (25) was a 2017 #1 draft pick (#5 overall) who has yet to live up to his expectations. He had a relatively weak 2020 season with only two games out of eight that could be considered well pitched. In 38.0 IP, he had a 5.21 ERA, 1.553 WHIP, 30 Ks and 24 walks, and allowed 7 HRs. Compared to Sanchez who started seven games and accumulated 39.0 IP, a 3.46 ERA, 1.205 WHIP, 33 Ks and 11 walks, and 3 HRs allowed.
The clock struck midnight in the third for the Marlins, as the Braves scored 4 runs on a walk, two singles, a 2-run double (that d’Arnaud again), and a sac fly. The Braves added a single run in the fourth thanks mainly to the speed of Acuna, and then scored a pair in the 5th thanks to a single and pair of doubles. Wright threw 6.0 competitive shutout innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 walks, and 7 K’s. With a 7-0 lead, the Braves sent out the B relief team of AJ Minter, Jacob Webb, and Shane Greene, to complete the shutout.
The Braves have a very good 1-2 starting pitching in Fried and Anderson. Wright figures to be #3, but after that Kyle Wright is their #3, and he is far far far from certain. Wright has never faced the Dodgers. After Wright, it is either Josh Tomlin, Huascar Ynoa, or Touki Toussant (he will need to be added). None of Tomlin, Ynoa, or Toussaint figure to give the Dodgers much of a problem.
The Braves have three players that should get MVP consideration, including the expected winner, Freddie Freeman. The other two that should get consideration will be Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuna. Travis d’Arnaud had a career season (.321/.386/.533/.919), while SS Dansby Swanson had a very productive season (.274/.345/.464/.809).
The Braves will be formidable, but I agree with those who think that San Diego was a tougher foe. Just as the Dodgers were a better team than San Diego, they are also a better team than Atlanta.
Tomorrow, I will report the numbers and the position comparisons, and my prediction. Hint, it will not be the Braves.
Discussion (28)
Disagree, not disagreeable
On another site it was mentioned that it could be a good chance the Dodgers move will Smith to 3rd Barns and Keibar as catchers and Deigo Cartaya about two years away. What are the chances this might happen.
Houston is playing much better than the Rays in the offseason. In fact, their bats have been better than ours. Pitching is where we are shining. I’m going to pick Houston over the Rays for this series.
Astros-Rays game 1:
8th inning, 2-1 Rays, and the Rays mgr. brings in a pitcher who hasn’t seen any action in October. Even the announcers questioned this move. He hits the 1st pitcher, and loads the bases with 1 out. I write this because this reminds me of some of the moves that Doc makes, spur of the moment pitching changes that are questionable. Now the game is on the line for the Rays. Will they get out of it? They just changed the pitcher again. Double play on the first pitch! Rays hold! So the mgr yanked the rusty reliever after 3 batters. Good move. Very lucky to get out of the inning with no runs. The 3 batter rule makes it more difficult for a guy like Doc to fiddle with things.
Congrats to the Lakers and Lebron. Lebron haters will be pissed.
Doc is always saying he plays the matchups. Ok play the matchups put the reliever in that has the best chance to get outs. He cannot worry about feelings he has got to go for the jugular. In the end would he rather the players be happy or win the big one. How can the players be happy if they don’t win? Look out for the players, fans, and ownership. Put your best players in the best position to win period. If he can’t do that then get somebody who will and make him the sensitivity trainer.
I am not talking about things like playing muncy. You have got to give him the chance to get hot when you really don’t have an alternative. But to sit there and watching Jansen blow the game without removing him doesn’t help anybody except the other team. I realize he took him out against San Diego so I applaud him for that. I only fault him for not having anybody to go to but Kelly.
Nice write-up, Jeff! I think that our depth will prevail in this series, especially now that it will be 7 games instead of 5. An interesting factor is that we haven’t faced Atlanta this year. I would assume that this will be an advantage for the pitchers, in particular those like May, Gonsolin, and Gonzalez for the Dodgers, and Anderson for the Braves, that have rarely or never been seen by the other team before.
I’ve really enjoyed being a Jansen fan. Even before he took the ‘closer’ role. His skills and confidence certainly have fallen to the point of it being hard to automatically want him in situations where so much is at stake. I don’t think it’s because the crowd is made of cardboard as he says. It’s not easy being dethroned but it happens to all that reached the top. I was once a giant but now I am small. Hope he still gives what he has left.
Rob Biertempfel of the Athletic previewed the Braves / Dodger series and quoted an unnamed scout as saying “If you move Jansen to the sixth or the seventh (inning) and insert other people in the later innings, now nobody knows their roles and it can get ugly real quick,” the scout said. “So, I think you’ve just got to continue with Jansen as the closer.”
And to that scout, I say Bull Pucky. I think we have a number of relievers capable of situational closing. And most have not had a definitive role all year. Treinen, I love McGee, Floro, Gonzales and MAY and Gonsolin if needed. Kj should get low leverage shots at lefties. And Kelly should get to clean the restrooms.
It’s funny how the mind-set has evolved concerning the mentality of a closer. My college roommate’s son is a cross checker scout and he and I have had some discussions about closers. He claims they are a special breed and not many are cut out for that role. I say that’s the case not because they say it’s the case. Back before there were specific 9th inning guys, pitchers threw multiple innings to close. It’s a “self fulfilling prophecy”.
Would I like to see a lock down closer. Absolutely. But who is that. We all saw Chapman give up a big fly that cost the Yankees. So we will do it with match ups and not one Dude.
Also, I would have liked to see Gonsolin pitch more but it is what it is. I like our guys and I think this relief core can get to done if used right.
Also when folks review the match ups, giving the Braves the advantage at first and center. Freddy Freeman should win the MVP but taking Acuna over Bellinger in center is a stretch.
I don’t see the Cheatos (I like that) getting by the Rays.
Good write up today Jeff and I’m looking forward to the breakdown tomorrow.
Rays and Astros set their rosters. Both are using 14 pitchers. Rays added a couple of lefty relievers, and the Stros added former Dodger pitcher Chase DeJong to their roster. If Rios is not healthy enough to go, I think the Dodgers go with 15 pitchers.
Even though Gonsolin did not get into a game. He has been throwing. He did a side session yesterday that sets him up for a game 4 start.
I believe the Dodgers pitching is superior particularly the starters. I would not have said that prior to the playoffs. But, as buehler blister gets better I expect he will continue to improve. We need a big game out of kershaw. If he can throw like he did against Milwaukee he will win. Both May and urias have proven now that they can produce in the big moments. For Urias to come into the game bases loaded down 2-1:and strike out the pads best hitter he can handle the playoff pressure. May was absolutely dominate. Gonsolin is a question mark but I think he will check the box.
We cannot let this get down to Melancon and smith. The Dodgers need to put up a crooked number in the first 6 innings. Even when Melancon was going bad the Dodgers rolled over for him. But, that was pre mookie and a better playoff seager and bellinger. We need muncy to break out.
Good post SoCalBum. Love that Astro’s nickname, “Cheetos”. On one hand I want to see a match-up of the Dodgers vs Houston in the World Series and on the other hand, want the Rays to send them out of contention.
Cheetos! I love it. I read the MLB position by position comparison online yesterday. Braves only had the edge in CF and 1B, and the relief corps. But I do not believe the separation between the two bullpens is that great. Melancon their closer had a very good year, but most of the Dodgers know him from when he was a Giant. I think there will be mostly close games. And I believe the Dodgers get the job done in six games. Buehler and Kershaw going 1-2 again,
Post season tournaments are so unpredictable, I enjoy watching each series in which the Dodgers participate, knowing that in a short series anything can, and usually does happen. I am rooting hard for the Rays to send the Houston Cheetos home to watch the WS on television.