The Braves’ pitching issues were put on full display in Pittsburgh, where the Pirates rolled to a 12-4 win and the gap in the division tightened again. Atlanta’s starter, “The Millionaire,” lasted just 3 1/3 innings and was tagged for 7 runs on 6 hits and 5 walks while striking out only 2.
Waldrep may still become a strong big league starter, but the source of hope here is not this season, and he still needs more rehab after elbow surgery. Connor Thomas followed and gave up 4 more runs in 3 2/3 innings, leaving only Jorge Mateo with a line that didn’t get uglier than the innings he worked: one run in one inning.
Mateo’s work mattered for one very specific reason. Ryan O’Hearn had already put together a monster night and was sitting on 10 RBI when he came up in the bottom of the eighth with a shot at tying the all-time MLB mark for RBIs in a game.
He had launched a grand slam in the first inning and added three-run homers in the third and sixth, so another swing of the bat would have given him 12. Instead, Mateo got him to hit a single to right and kept the record intact.
Jim Bottomley in 1925 and Mark Whiten in 1993 remain the only players to drive in 12 runs in a game, and O’Hearn became the 17th player ever to reach at least 10.
Atlanta’s offense managed 11 hits and 4 runs, which is a step forward from where it was in June, but it still wasn’t enough to survive a night like that. When one opposing hitter drives in 10, the margin for error disappears fast.
The loss also trimmed the Braves’ lead over the Phillies to 2 games. Zack Wheeler struck out 14 over 7 innings in Philadelphia’s 4-1 win over the Reds, and while the reaction here isn’t “DOOOOOMED,” the warning is clear enough: this team needs to turn it around soon.
The blunt suggestion from the source was simple - trade for a starting pitcher or two. “Get er done, AA.”
The recap also came with a confession: for the second straight week, the game itself wasn’t watched. Instead, the night was spent at the first Gwinnett Stripers game, and it sounded like a good time. The ballpark was described as very nice, with plenty of amenities.
There wasn’t much appetite for pretending there was deep prospect expertise here, either. The Braves don’t really have position player prospects at Triple-A, and the writer said they couldn’t match Snowshine’s weekly breakdowns anyway.
Drue Hackenberg, one of the organization’s top 20 prospects on most lists, started for Gwinnett and was mostly fine through five innings, allowing 3 hits and 1 run. But he gave up a three-run homer in the sixth and finished with 4 runs allowed in 5 1/3 innings, along with 4 walks and 2 homers surrendered.
The takeaway was that his stuff looked somewhat underwhelming, and better command is going to be necessary.
The night at the ballpark offered a few other observations. A lot of Triple-A players are minor league lifers, former big leaguers trying to get back, or veterans hanging on as long as they can. Carlos Santana was one of the players visible from the first row by first base, and the source noted that he’s still plugging away at age 40 after a long, productive major league career.
Gwinnett’s retired numbers also got some attention: 42, 44, 35 and 23. Henry Aaron’s 44 and Tommie Aaron’s 23 were easy to understand, and 42 needs no explanation.
Phil Niekro’s 35 was the one that raised questions, though the source wasn’t complaining. Niekro was called the all-time favorite pitcher, and the ballpark’s tribute to him includes photos, a replica Hall of Fame plaque, and a menu item called the “Knucksie,” cornbread topped with pulled pork BBQ and cole slaw.
It was ordered in his honor and, according to the report, was quite good.
As for the rotation, the message was plain: outside of Chris Sale, it’s a mess, and it may look different later this month. For now, the Braves go with the starters they have.
Wednesday’s assignment belongs to Grant Holmes. Go get em, Grant.
In Other News...
Braves Quietly Got Back A Bullpen Arm They May Desperately Need
For most of the season, Atlantas bullpen has looked like one of the clubs quiet advantages, but the last stretch has brought a little more unease. Raisel Iglesias has blown a save, Dylan Lee has had shaky outings and Didier Fuentes is nearing the break, which has made the relief picture feel less settled than it did a few weeks ago.
Into that mix comes Danny Young, the left-hander the Braves have quietly gotten back after his injury layoff. His early work this season has been encouraging enough to give Atlanta another option for mid-to-high-leverage spots against left-handed hitters, and perhaps a way to ease the load on some of the other arms that have been asked to carry more lately. The bigger question is how quickly the Braves lean into that role, and whether Young can turn a useful return into something more than just a temporary fix. [Read more 🡒]
Walt Weiss Decisions Just Cost The Braves A Game They Had Won
The Braves had enough offense to put themselves in position to win, but the game slipped into the kind of extra-inning mess that usually leaves a manager under the microscope. Atlanta scored six runs and still could not finish off the Mets, with the lineups missed chances and a thin bench leaving the club in a difficult spot once the game stretched beyond regulation.
Walt Weiss choices only made the margin for error smaller. The Braves were already navigating a less-than-ideal setup in extras, and the way the bullpen and lineup were handled became a major part of why a game that looked won turned into a loss, even before the final inning had fully played out. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Cant Afford Another Quiet Deadline From Alex Anthopoulos
With the trade deadline approaching, the Braves look like a club that cannot simply sit back and hope the rotation and outfield sort themselves out. ESPNs latest best-fit rundown had Atlanta attached to 17 of the top 25 deadline candidates, which is a pretty clear sign that the market sees a team with real needs and a front office that should be active. Starting pitching remains the obvious priority, and the list of names floating around ranges from Tarik Skubal and Joe Ryan to Sonny Gray, Reid Detmers, Casey Mize, Jose Soriano and Freddy Peralta.
The outfield search is a little murkier, with Taylor Ward looking like the most realistic target if Atlanta wants to add a bat without emptying the system. Shortstop is another area worth watching, but the price tag on the top names would be steep enough to make any deal complicated fast. For Alex Anthopoulos, the pressure is less about making a splash than avoiding another deadline that leaves the roster looking almost exactly the same when the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]