ATLANTA — Nothing has come simple for the Braves this yr. So, it shouldn’t be a shock that their postseason destiny can be realized on what has grow to be the ultimate day of their common season.
“We’ve bought an opportunity to make the postseason,” Braves first baseman Matt Olson stated. “It’s the identical as any day, we’ve bought to point out up and win tomorrow. Clearly, you’ll have wished to do it right now and take a neater route tomorrow.”
Each the Braves and Mets want only one win throughout Monday’s twin invoice to safe one of many Wild Card spots. If both crew is swept, then the D-backs would advance to the postseason.
The Braves will begin rookie sensation Spencer Schwellenbach within the first recreation. Schwellenbach has allowed one run over 14 innings in opposition to the Mets and he has a 1.79 ERA within the seven begins he has made in opposition to NL playoff contenders.
If Schwellenbach doesn’t get the job completed, the Braves will give the ball to Chris Sale within the nightcap. Sale wants 4 strikeouts and to maintain his ERA underneath Tarik Skubal’s 2.39 mark to grow to be the primary pitcher to win MLB’s Triple Crown since Johan Santana in 2007, however the veteran would a lot somewhat be stored accessible to start out Sport 1 of the Wild Card Collection, which might be performed in San Diego in opposition to the Padres on Tuesday.
“The ball is in our court docket,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “If we will pull a kind of off, then it’s simply a kind of issues.”
Sale and Schwellenbach remained choices for the doubleheader when Atlanta gambled on Charlie Morton’s capacity to assist them win on Sunday.
Sadly for Morton, in what might need been the ultimate begin of his profession, it didn’t go as he or the crew had wished. The 40-year-old hurler surrendered a three-run homer to Michael Massey earlier than the sport’s first out was recorded. He additionally surrendered a two-out solo homer to Hunter Renfroe within the fourth.
“I don’t know really feel about that due to the outcomes,” Morton stated. “I really feel like I let the crew down due to the outcomes.”
Had the Braves received, they’d have entered the Wild Card Collection with each Sale and Schwellenbach accessible. However the blame prolonged past Morton, who was lifted after 4 1/3 innings.
The Braves scored simply two runs regardless of the very fact the Royals went into the seventh inning earlier than utilizing any pitchers who’re locks for a postseason roster spot. Alec Marsh allowed two runs — one earned — over 5 innings and lowered his ERA to 4.53.
Gio Urshela’s third-inning leadoff homer and Ramón Laureano’s fourth-inning RBI single accounted for Atlanta’s solely runs. The Braves additionally bumped into outs in an premature method.
Orlando Arcia was thrown out attempting to advance to 3rd base on a pitch that went simply to the fitting of Royals catcher Freddy Fermin to finish the highest of the third with Marcell Ozuna on the plate.
Jorge Soler was simply thrown out on the plate when he tried to attain on a pointy grounder to 3rd base within the fourth.
“It is not an ideal recreation,” Snitker stated. “These guys aren’t excellent. It is all the time robust in these conditions, particularly with the place we had been within the lineup.”
Finishing a three-game sweep of the Royals would have supplied the Braves an opportunity to start making ready for the Wild Card Collection with out first having to get by a doubleheader. However that wouldn’t have been a becoming growth throughout this injury-plagued season that has been stuffed with challenges.
“We’ll play two ball video games and hopefully we go on the market and get some massive hits and all that,” Snitker stated. “It’s as much as us. We’ll should make it occur.”
