Braves 2019 NLDS Thread, Braves vs Cardinals...

[Jamaaliver]

Atlanta’s Postseason Just Started, but the Braves Are Already in Trouble

A late St. Louis comeback in Game 1 of the NLDS exposed a key weakness for Atlanta, and gave the Cardinals control of the series with their best pitcher set to start Game 2



The Atlanta Braves entered the 2019 postseason full of hope and high on potential. In the regular season, the club posted its highest win total since 2003. Its den of young stars, led by downballot MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. in the field and downballot Rookie of the Year candidate Mike Soroka on the mound, added an enviable blend of excitement and skills. And Atlanta was favored in its first-round series against the Cardinals as it searched for its first playoff advancement since 2001, when Acuña was 3 years old.

Most of the way through Thursday’s NLDS opener, the home Braves matched those hopes on the field. Entering the top of the eighth inning, Atlanta led 3-1 with its best relievers yet to pitch, and looked set to take the opening game. And then, in the span of about half an hour, the Braves’ bullpen unraveled.

Had his bullpen done the job, Braves Manager Brian Snitker would deserve applause for his adept management throughout the game. But reliever Chris Martin’s oblique injury, which forced an unexpected shuffle of relievers in the eighth, might end up swinging the series. Under the 2-2-1 playoff format, home teams that drop the first game are just 10-26 in their respective series, and home teams that lose the first two games are a grim 2-13.

The series isn’t over, of course. No team can lose a best-of-five series after just one game, no matter how disheartening the first defeat.

The Ringer

[Nemesis21]

Atlanta’s Postseason Just Started, but the Braves Are Already in Trouble

A late St. Louis comeback in Game 1 of the NLDS exposed a key weakness for Atlanta, and gave the Cardinals control of the series with their best pitcher set to start Game 2



The Atlanta Braves entered the 2019 postseason full of hope and high on potential. In the regular season, the club posted its highest win total since 2003. Its den of young stars, led by downballot MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. in the field and downballot Rookie of the Year candidate Mike Soroka on the mound, added an enviable blend of excitement and skills. And Atlanta was favored in its first-round series against the Cardinals as it searched for its first playoff advancement since 2001, when Acuña was 3 years old.

Most of the way through Thursday’s NLDS opener, the home Braves matched those hopes on the field. Entering the top of the eighth inning, Atlanta led 3-1 with its best relievers yet to pitch, and looked set to take the opening game. And then, in the span of about half an hour, the Braves’ bullpen unraveled.

Had his bullpen done the job, Braves Manager Brian Snitker would deserve applause for his adept management throughout the game. But reliever Chris Martin’s oblique injury, which forced an unexpected shuffle of relievers in the eighth, might end up swinging the series. Under the 2-2-1 playoff format, home teams that drop the first game are just 10-26 in their respective series, and home teams that lose the first two games are a grim 2-13.

The series isn’t over, of course. No team can lose a best-of-five series after just one game, no matter how disheartening the first defeat.

The Ringer

This article is blaming the pen, yeah Jackson and Melancon weren't good. But that loss is all on Acuna and his not hustling in the 7th inning.

[Nemesis21]

1-0 Braves in the 2nd

[Ruzious]

I know it's only the 3rd inning, but the way Folty looks - let him pitch 9 if his pitch count doesn't get too high. Dude is on a role.

[Nemesis21]

1-0 Braves in the 5th

[Nemesis21]

The offense is going to waste a Folty gem.

[Ruzious]

We won't talk about the Braves 4th inning... plech.

[Nemesis21]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Nemesis21]

Freeman, Donaldson, Markakis, Joyce are due up, we need to score!

[Nemesis21]

3 up 3 down for Flaherty in the 6th.

[Nemesis21]

7 scoreless for Folty, Monlina got a 1 out single, Wong GIDP to get out of the inning!

[Ruzious]

So far so good with Max, but how does Snit take out Folty when he had only 81 pitches? Maybe his velocity was down? I dunno - hard to justify, but maybe Snit had info showing Folty was losing his stuff. Nice job by Max!

[Ruzious]

Wow, those last 2 curves by Melanson had absurdly sharp last second bites on them - grats to him. He looked like he had just swallowed 5 pots of coffee. Gotta admit, I though Snit was crazy to put him in, but it worked out.

[Nemesis21]

Melancon with the shutdown 9th!! Gets the save! We go to St. Louis tied up 1-1, with Soroka due up!!

[Nemesis21]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[ATL Boy]

Soroka vs. Wainwright is a Game 3 matchup I like on paper, but the experience difference scares me.

[Nemesis21]

Soroka vs. Wainwright is a Game 3 matchup I like on paper, but the experience difference scares me.

Have to score on Wainwright early. He allowed 11 ER in his last two regular season starts.

[Nemesis21]

1-0 Cardinals end of the 7th. Both Wainwright and Soroka have completed 7 inning. I assume both are done for the night. We need to score on their bullpen!

[Nemesis21]

Bases loaded with 2 outs for Freeman. Cards going to the pen, Wainwright 7.2 IP 120 pitches

1-0 Cards

[Nemesis21]

Can of corn, Freeman pops out to CF. Braves 3 LOB that inning.


1-0 Cards middle of the 8th