With a comparatively calm 5-2 victory on Sunday, the Braves closed out a sweep of the reigning Nationwide League champions. This is what we discovered after a wild weekend in Atlanta.
You’ll be able to by no means rely the Braves out of any sport
Atlanta trailed 5-2 within the eighth on Friday night time earlier than sending the sport to further innings. After Pierce Johnson pitched a scoreless prime of the tenth, Travis d’Arnaud walked it off to present Atlanta a leg up within the collection.
On Saturday night time, the Braves trailed by deficits of 6-0 and 8-2, however a three-run residence run by Marcell Ozuna sparked a wild comeback that culminated in a game-tying single from Ronald Acuna Jr. and a go-ahead single from Austin Riley within the eighth.
With a save from Raisel Iglesias, the Braves gained the collection and capped one of many wildest finishes of the younger MLB season.
Beginning pitching? Meh. The bullpen? The perfect in baseball
After final season, it looks like this headline needs to be fully flipped round. Atlanta relievers constantly struggled to large outs in 2023, however with out large aid outings from the likes of Jesse Chavez, Johnson and Joe Jimenez over the weekend, the Braves could also be on the opposite finish of the sweep.
Spencer Strider’s injury-marred begin put the Braves behind early, as did a second straight poor outing from Max Fried. Chris Sale appears to be the Braves’ finest beginning pitcher in the mean time, however plainly the bullpen has fully flipped the script from a yr in the past.
What a distinction a yr makes for Ozuna, Kelenic
Each gamers talked about above are in drastically totally different spots than they have been a yr in the past, which ought to make Braves followers extraordinarily enthusiastic about their potential for the season.
Kelenic was batting .304 at this level in 2023, and whereas a stable mark, he is been on fireplace to start out 2024, boasting 11 hits, two walks, and three RBI in 19 at-bats to start the season. He is been all the things the Braves anticipated and far more, particularly for a participant within the nine-hole of the most effective lineup in baseball.
Marcell Ozuna, in the meantime, has additionally had a a lot better begin to 2024. At this level final yr, his future with the crew itself was very unsure. Whereas a visit to Miami in early Might finally solidified his roster spot, the Large Bear has been raking to start out 2024, hitting 4 residence runs and two doubles to start out the season, together with 10 RBI.
If the Atlanta DH can sustain his energy numbers all through the season, he could also be in competition to be the NL residence run champion.
