The Atlanta Braves dropped the series finale 5-1 to the Washington Nationals on Sunday afternoon in Truist Park.
Here’s what you need to know about from the contest.
Reynaldo López on regular rest is a bit of a different pitcher
Today's start was just the third time this season that Reynaldo López made a start on the conventional four days of rest.
It felt like you could tell.
López allowed only one run on three hits in his six innings, good for yet another quality start (his 11th of the season). But despite the success, he was a little shakier in the walks department than usual - he walked three today for the second time in those three starts. (The third of those starts was one walk and three runs, two earned, in 4.2 innings in a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 25th).
Throwing 94 pitches but just 55 strikes, López picked up 12 whiffs and had a 29% CSW, some of his lower totals for a quality start this season.
Despite that small step back, however, it was still good enough for the Braves to win. Today was the 14th straight game where Atlanta's starting pitcher held the opponents to three runs or less, with the team going 10-4 in those games
Even more Braves injuries, and in a familiar pattern
MLB has discussed the need to adjust how teams use their starting pitchers, with recent discussions about a six-inning minimum intended to "restore the prominence of the starting pitcher".
Maybe we should pump the brakes on that.
For the second straight Sunday, a Braves starter was forced from the game after taking a fastball to the hand from a young starter. Last week, it was Los Angeles Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz hitting Austin Riley with 97.1 mph, ultimately breaking his hand and knocking Riley out of commission for six to eight weeks.
It was Michael Harris II today. The centerfielder took a 93.2 mph fastball to the left hand from the arm of Nationals youngster DJ Herz, ultimately leaving the game prior to the fifth inning with what the team characterized as "left hand soreness".
Harris was playing in just his eleventh game after returning from more than two months on the injured list with a grade two hamstring strain.
If he has to miss time, which is not a sure thing as of now pending medical testing, Atlanta may need to scramble for more outfield depth yet again. Jarred Kelenic checked in for Harris in centerfield - he got a majority of the starts up the middle during Harris' absence but was in left field or on the bench for the last five games prior to Harris being activated on August 14th. Ramón Laureano started three games, with Eli White (currently in Triple-A Gwinnett) getting the other two.
And Harris might not be the only injury loss from this game.
In the 8th inning, designated hitter Marcell Ozuna fouled a ball off his shin, just above the shin guard. He was briefly checked out by the Braves training staff but insisted on staying in the game, weakly swinging over a slider two pitches later. Ozuna's walk to the dugout was slow, with the slugger having a heavy limp, so we'll hold our breath that there's not any significant damage to the shin of Atlanta's MVP candidate.
When you're not hitting, there's a very slim margin for error
The difference in this one was the three-run seventh inning for the Nationals. After a leadoff error put a runner on first, a single and a passed ball had runners on 2nd and 3rd with only one out. One run came in on yet another passed ball, while the second came in on a double from Jacob Young. A third run scored after a pitching change on a ball that deflected off an infielder and ended up in right field.
While the sequence was helped by a missed strike call on Young that prolonged his at-bat, the sloppy play by Atlanta - the error, two passed balls, and two missed defensive plays on gettable balls that made it through the infield - showcase just how slim the margin for error is for Atlanta right now.
Matt Olson's 6th inning homer was just the team's second hit of the game, tying the game at one. The Braves finished with just three hits and scored only the one run, the seventh consecutive game that Atlanta didn't score more than three runs.
(The Braves went 5-2 in those games, which is NOT normal.)
Atlanta's games in late August feel like postseason matchups right now, where each play has added significance because of how hard it is to score at the moment. But unlike October baseball, several of these close and tight games have come against non-winning teams, like the Los Angeles Angels last weekend and the Nationals this weekend.
What’s next for the Atlanta Braves?
The Braves are packing up and hitting the road for a series which may determine the finish for the season. Atlanta has three in Minnesota against the Twins before heading to Philadelphia for four against the Phillies in Citizens Bank Park.
Atlanta will send Max Fried to the Target Field mound for game one opposite righty Bailey Ober at 7:40 PM ET.
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