Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and reliever Chris Martin dealt with injuries at the end of the regular season, but both players will be available when the team starts its playoff series against the Reds on Wednesday, David O’Brien of The Athletic tweets.
Acuna missed the Braves’ regular-season finale with left wrist irritation, but he’s now “fine,” according to manager Brian Snitker. That’s obviously excellent news for the Braves, with whom Acuna slashed .250/.406/.581 and totaled 14 home runs and eight stolen bases in 202 plate appearances. Acuna, potential MVP Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna, who each managed a wRC+ of no worse than 159, give the NL East-winning Braves a terrifying offensive trio as the team heads into the playoffs.
Along with their high-powered offense, the Braves’ bullpen was among the reasons they reigned supreme in their division for the third straight time. Their relief corps ranked fourth in ERA and ninth in fWAR, owing in part to Martin’s work. After re-signing with the Braves last winter on a two-year, $14MM contract, Martin fired 18 innings of 1.00 ERA/2.36 FIP ball with 10.0 K/9 against 1.5 BB/9. Martin left the Braves’ last game with groin troubles, but it appears he dodged a serious problem.
As long as Martin doesn’t warm up in a spot where we need him and then leave the game without throwing a pitch again.
Latest on both….they’ll be one and done in this playoff setting. Sucks for them they ran into The Big Red Machine so early
real talk, why is everyone suddely on the Reds bandwagon? they’ve been underperforming since the start of 2019 and suddely one strong run makes them the team to beat? yeah, i dont buy it. it takes more then a good rotation to win in the playoffs.
I buy it sadly. Atlanta has max fried and then a bunch of question marks. Ian Anderson is good if he doesn’t walk everybody. I hope I’m wrong maybe Acuna will hit quick lead off homer and set the tone idk.
no not saying the Reds wolnt win, (sorry Braves fans, but that rotation isnt going to work too well for you) I just dont see the Reds as some juggernaut like others do. they have a good shot in a 3 game series with that SP, but Fried and Anderson could very well match up with them on a good day, and the Reds hitting doesnt scare me.
You guys do understand Tommy Milone and Robbie Erlin aren’t in the rotation anymore, right? Fried was right with Bauer and DeGrom most of the season. Ian Anderson had a 1.95 ERA and 11.4K/9. Kyle Wright finally came around his last few starts. Their rotation is fine.
CIN has good pitching inflated by weak offenses they’ve played all year, with CHW being the most exceptional – not as good as ATL’s. Truly, CIN hasn’t seen an offense all year like ATL’s, while ATL has seen just as good quality pitching through the NL East. It’s no coincidence that the 2 Cy Youngs will be coming from the Central division – weak offenses throughout in both leagues.
Tough year to gage but 7 of top 12 pitching staffs are from the central. That has to play a part in every red hitting career lows in average.
Hoping the law of averages catch up to those reds bats !
I agree. I was reading CBSSPORTS wild card predictions and only one out of five or six had the Braves winning. I get that the Braves have questionable at best starting pitching, but it’s a little shocking to see the Braves as such underdogs.
Yeah, it’s plenty doubtful that Atlanta has the SP to get past a team like LA. The Reds, though? With Atlanta’s offense, absolutely. I don’t understand all of the seats suddenly disappearing on the Reds bandwagon.
Darkside——since about February everywhere you turned it was Reds-White Sox. White Sox—Reds. Reds—White Sox. No Padres, etc. Nobody is suddenly “on” the Reds bandwagon.
In fact, if the World Series isn’t the Reds and White Sox a lot of people wasted a lot of time writing and chatting in February.
And yes, to your point it takes a good rotation to win in the playoffs, but before the season you could not of predicted Senzel being absent, the regression of Castellanos and the complete disappearance of Votto and Suarez. They hit .212 as a team—-if they somehow hit .255-.260 for three weeks they won’t surprise anyone.
Totally agree, it takes more than a good or even a GREAT rotation to win in the playoffs. Just look at Atlanta for all of those years with ONLY 1 World Series Title. At least they did WIN one.
Remember when the Tigers had Verlander, Scherzer, Price, Anibel Sanchez, Porcello, Robby Ray (before he was good) and couldn’t win….think about that. Four Cy Young winners…….
Some good points. I mean, look at Bieber tonight, dude got rocked.
I don’t like this 3 game playoff junk. Wouldn’t it normally be a best of 5 with winning your division?
In case nobody told you The Big Red Machine is extinct. This is a good Reds team but far from a great one.
Given Atlanta’s ability to screw up in postseason, I’ll be rooting for the Braves, but they will be out in 3 as usual. No one will hit, constant errors, followed by a meltdown by a reliable pitcher just to seal the deal
Coldplay sucks
he’s a better relief pitcher then singer luckily
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog expressed it well:
“Coldplay? More like ColdSORE!
Back when you were U2, I liked you so much more.
Somehow your song ‘Yellow’ reminds me of pee!
That’s because when it’s over it’s a great relief to me…”
I dk about anyone else but I happened to watch every single game the Braves played this year and even though their pitching is questionable. This Braves team fights and scraps better than any team in baseball. In almost every game they were behind late they found ways to atleast have the tying run up at the plate and they do it consistently. This Braves team has a certain personality and with them having one more year of playoff experience under their belt from last season and learning from their mistakes. I have a feeling they are coming into this series with the right mindset and at the right time.
I think the braves pitching is going to surprise people and Ian Anderson and Kyle Wright have the chance to make a name for themselves. This braves offense is dangerous from 1-9 with Ozzie back and I’m glad the Braves are the “underdog” as they tend to play better when everyone is expecting them to lose. You don’t think these players hear all the noise about the reds being picked to beat them? You know they do. So we will see what the Braves can put together on their home field where they have been very hard to beat this season.
I would have preferred the Cardinals. The Reds rotation matches favorably to the Braves and I am not talking about Fried vs. Bauer. Fried has demonstrated that he can pitch under a spotlight and be elite while he does it. You should probably give Bauer the edge but the Braves better line up and deeper bullpen more than make up for that.
What bothers me is game 2 and 3 if needed. I’m very impressed with how Anderson is pitching but it shouldn’t be so much of a surprise either because his talent has been noticed for some time. Hell, many of us Braves fans have been eagerly awaiting his arrival but to look to him to be our second playoff pitcher is asking a lot after all of 32 major league innings of work. Kyle Wright has more experience but hasn’t looked as sharp as Anderson though his last 3 starts and 19 innings does give us a some hope.
The Braves line up and bullpen will have to make up for the difference between Castillo and Anderson and then Wright and Gray. One important distinction is, the Braves can afford to go to their bullpen sooner than the Reds. So while the Reds will need their starters to go 6 or 7 innings it will be easier for the Braves to get Anderson and Wright out of their in 5 or even 4 innings if need be.
Good analysis. I think Bieber getting rocked today just goes to show that it’s the playoffs and anything can happen, there’s no guarantees, even with a stud pitcher.
This first game is so key. If Fried goes 7 and the Braves win they can yank their starter in game two after two innings if needed and basically do a bullpen game to prevent a game three.
@Briffle- Good to see us agreeing on something =). Yes, I felt it all hinged on game one as well. If the Braves could take the first then it seems to me they stand a good chance to take one out of the next two. And man, what a game 1 it was.
As has been pointed out, the Reds lineup was underperforming all year until the last couple of weeks. What’s gone unsaid here is that the bullpen has also finally started to perform well. Iglesias is pitching like a top closer lately, Sims has been lights out, Antone and Lorenzen have capably bounced between starts and relief, Bradley should be solid, and Garrett is one of the best left handed relievers in the league. I’d say the Reds are plenty confident in their bullpen too.
Yes, they underperformed but the Braves offense is either the first or second best in the league and the bullpen has been performing as a top shelf unit all season long so the Braves have earned that advantage.
Well, they got seven from Fried, but still had to use almost the whole pen. The good thing is only Smith (19) and Matzek (24) had a decent amount of pitches. Still got Dayton and Webb if the Braves need someone fresh earlier in the game. If the Braves had lost, real slim chances of advancing with Anderson and Wright going.
Worst come to worst, the Braves lose game two, but are able to rest their key relievers, while the Reds have to use a couple of their guys again, limiting them for game three. Game three could be a quick yank and bullpen game for the Braves with Wright on the mound.
Iglesias (26), Sims (20), Lorenzen (27) all threw a good amount of pitches.
I’m not worried about the Reds that much to be honest. Sure they have great starting pitching but their offense leaves a lot to be desired. Plus, all 3 games being in Atlanta is a big help.
After watching nearly every game, I’m not as concerned about the pitching as the hitting .As bad as the SP numbers look, SP-ing is starting to show some life. The pen will be good – not great. The hitting numbers are opposite the pitching ones, look good, but hitting with RISP & 10 to 12 K’s per game against season pitching is not going to get it done in the playoffs. ATL must hit and move runners, and if that happens there’s a chance in the first 3 games. If we get to 5, no way 3 somewhat reliable SP-ing will get ATL through that .even if the hitting happens on all cylinders. This being an unusual year, anything is possible & hoping luck goes ATL’s way – we will need all that will come.