The Atlanta Braves having a home run derby with the Phillies could be dangerous | Bill Shanks
There are a million stats that could be thrown into an article to preview the series between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. And I’ll be honest, over the last few days I’ve inundated myself with numbers to try and figure out what the Braves will do in the postseason.
And it was all probably a waste of time.
What has happened in the past means nothing. What happened last October means nothing. Even what happened earlier this week in the first round means nothing. The playoffs are one push of the reset button after another. It all starts from scratch in October.
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This is the time of year when heroes are made. It’s about what’s going to happen now moving forward and who will step up with the big hit or the big strikeout.
The Braves have had plenty of heroes made in the postseason. Think about Mark Lemke, Francisco Cabrera, Mike Devereaux, and Eddie Perez. All had huge hits or series in October.
Think about two years ago. Joc Pederson hit .429 with two home runs for the Braves in the Division Series against the Brewers. Eddie Rosario hit .560 with three home runs in the League Championship Series against the Dodgers. And Jorge Soler hit .300 with the longest home run you’ll ever see in your life in the World Series against the Astros.
Tyler Matzek got huge strikeouts in relief for the Braves in the Dodgers series. He allowed only three runs in 15.2 innings (1.73 ERA). While Luke Jackson couldn’t get a Dodger out, he still got huge outs against the Brewers and the Astros. And after closer Will Smith could not get anyone out just two months earlier, he did not allow an earned run the entire month of October.
So, while we can stress what the Braves have done the last six months, and how historic their regular season was, it’s about who steps up for the next few weeks. All the Braves have to do is go 11-8 in the next 19 games, but that’s easier said than done. It takes big hits and clutch performances to win it all. And, of course, the team that wins simply has to be hot at the right time. Like right now.
We know the Braves will hit in the playoffs. They’ll hit home runs. But they must pitch well. Getting into a home run derby with the Phillies would be dangerous. It will be a lot better to simply compliment the great offense for this team with solid pitching.
Spencer Strider will be front and center. He’s the ace with Max Fried still having to prove his finger won’t pop with the blister when he pitches in Game Two. Strider is 8-0 in his career against the Phillies. Can that success continue into the postseason?
With Bryce Elder possibly taking the first round off, the Braves may turn to 20-year-old AJ Smith-Shawver and/or Kyle Wright to pitch in Game Three. It might depend on how the first two games in Atlanta go, but even having an opener like Brad Hand or Jesse Chavez may an option.
The bullpen heroes from two years ago aren’t here now. The middle innings will now be served by Kirby Yates, Joe Jimenez, Pierce Johnson, and of course, A.J. Minter. With Matzek recovering from elbow surgery, Minter takes center stage as the main pitcher who will likely face Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Bryson Scott and Brandon Marsh, the top lefty hitters in Philadelphia’s lineup. And closer Raisel Iglesias must nail down leads.
But who will get that big hit? Sure, it might all be about home runs. But someone might need to get that big double to score a runner from first or even that big at bat to draw a walk so it’ll be anything but a bunch of solo home runs.
Wouldn’t it almost be poetic if it was someone outside of the top five in the Atlanta lineup to be the star? Sure, Ronald Acuna, Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Matt Olson, and Marcell Ozuna are all more than capable of doing great things. And heck, Acuna might go on a tear and single-handedly win the series himself.
What if Sean Murphy or Travis d’Arnaud, both of whom have been horrible since the All-Star Break, got that big hit? Wouldn’t it be something if hometown kid Michael Harris II had a great series? What if someone off the bench, Kevin Pillar or Nicky Lopez perhaps, won a game?
Maybe it won’t even be a player. If that blister on Fried’s hand could just stay away for three-plus weeks, that might be all the Braves need. Maybe if the Braves win it all and Fried pitches well, “the blister” will be inscribed inside the ring.
Get ready for every pitch, every deep fly ball, and every managerial move to be scrutinized and cause deep breaths. The Braves have a great team, and a great chance. And it’s time for storylines to created like the the last chapter of a long book. It’s time for players to play on a big stage at the highest level and to come through in the clutch. It’s the playoffs, and there’s nothing like it.
Listen to The Bill Shanks Show weekdays at 3:00 pm ET on The SuperStations 104.3 FM in Savannah and online at TheSuperStations.com. Email Bill at TheBillShanksShow@yahoo.com.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Previewing Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies | Bill Shanks
