ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. homering for the third time within the eight video games he has performed since coming back from a year-long absence was additional proof of his greatness. Austin Riley homering for simply the second time since Might 4 was encouraging.
However seeing Spencer Schwellenbach throw a pair of 100 mph pitches, that’s particular. Or did it simply have one thing to do with the birthday energy he displayed whereas serving to the Braves acquire a much-needed pick-me-up with a 5-0 win over the Purple Sox on Saturday afternoon at Truist Park?
“Perhaps, in all probability — however no, I felt good,” mentioned Schwellenbach, who turned 25 on Saturday. “My physique felt actually good. I simply awoke on the appropriate facet of the mattress in the present day, I suppose.”
It felt like every of the Braves awoke feeling significantly better than that they had on Friday night time, once they seemingly neared all-time low with their seventh loss in 9 video games. Matt Olson doubled residence a run within the first on Saturday. Riley and Acuña homered in a four-run fourth towards Walker Buehler.
Receiving contributions from every of those three stars was widespread again in 2023, when Schwellenbach was experiencing his first skilled season.
“He’s a particular man,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned of his younger pitcher, who has posted a 3.27 ERA within the 33 begins he has made since his MLB debut on Might 29, 2024.
Schwellenbach regarded like a person on a mission as he matched his profession excessive with 11 strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. The hurler started his second straight double-digit-strikeout recreation by registering 100.2 mph with a pitch within the first inning and 100 mph with a pitch within the second inning.
“When I attempt to get on one, I can often get 98 [mph],” Schwellenbach mentioned. “However the ones the place I used to be simply attempting to hit a spot in the present day, it was like 99, and I used to be like, ‘Oh, boy!’ Once I struck out [Wilyer Abreu] within the first inning, I used to be going for 100. The innings afterwards, I used to be simply doing what I often do. It was simply popping out slightly higher in the present day.”
Schwellenbach has recorded 11 strikeouts with out issuing a stroll in every of his previous two begins. He’s the primary pitcher to notch eleven-plus strikeouts with out issuing a free move in a minimum of two straight begins since Zac Gallen on April 21-26, 2023, and simply the sixteenth pitcher to take action since a minimum of 1901.
“You see the strike-to-ball proportion and it’s simply loopy,” Snitker mentioned. “The stuff for him was ticked up. I lookup there, and he’s throwing within the 100s and probably not overexerting both.”
Schwellenbach had by no means beforehand thrown a pitch more durable than 98.9 mph. However he threw 99 mph or more durable 11 occasions by way of the primary two innings and 13 occasions complete throughout his 99-pitch outing.
“I don’t know if it was his birthday and he was simply feeling good,” Riley mentioned. “However it was simply an impressive efficiency.”
The Braves went 13-14 in Might regardless of their rotation posting a 2.98 ERA. Efforts like Schwellenbach’s had been too usually wasted over the previous few weeks.
However Atlanta has been trying ahead to days like this when its stars click on concurrently.
Acuña has hit .367 with three homers and a 1.174 OPS within the 34 plate appearances he’s accomplished since coming back from left knee surgical procedure on Might 23. Most significantly, he’s feeling good.
“While you play like that, you are feeling nice day by day,” Snitker mentioned.
Olson had a good Might, hitting eight homers and producing an .814 OPS. His 14 extra-base hits had been two fewer than the mixed totals of Riley (9) and Marcell Ozuna (seven).
Riley had simply three extra-base hits over 85 at-bats from Might 5 by way of the primary recreation of Thursday’s doubleheader in Philadelphia. However he has three extra-base hits within the 10 at-bats which have adopted.
“We’ve acquired a few of the greatest hitters on the earth on our staff,” Schwellenbach mentioned. “We’ve acquired a deep lineup and lots of people who can hit. If I’m an opposing pitcher, I don’t need to face the Braves.”
Nor are opposing groups anxiously trying ahead to seeing Schwellenbach, who counted a Rafael Devers grand slam as the one harm he incurred throughout a decided seven-inning victorious effort at Fenway Park on Might 18.
“He’s acquired great things,” Purple Sox supervisor Alex Cora mentioned. “He went from 94, 95, 96 [mph] towards us at residence, after which swiftly it was 98 to 99 [on Saturday]. Began utilizing his cut up towards lefties midway by way of the outing. We tried to battle, however that was great things.”
