ATLANTA — Braves supervisor Brian Snitker appreciated Michael Harris II as a leadoff hitter, then he didn’t, however now he does once more.
“It may be actually good for us,” Snitker stated. “I appreciated it there to start with after which it didn’t appear proper. Now, it feels proper once more.”
Harris notched his second straight multi-hit sport in Atlanta’s 5-2 win over the Rockies on Wednesday night time at Truist Park. His catalyst function positions him to maximise the worth of the harmful duo of Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson, who notched consecutive doubles throughout a four-run first inning.
“I really feel actually good proper now,” Harris stated. “It’s sort of how I felt proper earlier than I went down. It sucks to have been out for 2 months. However now, I’m feeling good after being again for 2 weeks. I’m simply glad to be in that spot and to assist produce.”
The times of merely penciling Ronald Acuña Jr.’s title on the prime of the lineup ended on Could 26, when the reigning Nationwide League MVP tore his left ACL. Harris then served because the leadoff hitter in opposition to right-handed starters till he strained his left hamstring on June 14.
Jarred Kelenic crammed the function for the following six weeks, then handed the torch to Jorge Soler, who was put on the prime of the lineup after being acquired from the Giants. Harris moved again into the function after Soler’s hamstring tightened on Aug. 14.
Harris and Whit Merrifield each crammed the function over the ultimate two weeks of August, however Harris moved again to the highest of the lineup on Sunday — the Braves want to maintain him there for the remainder of the yr.
“[You want somebody to] simply get the practice going,” Kelenic stated. “He’s finished such an awesome job since he’s been again and he’s a enjoyable participant to observe.”
Kelenic’s three-run homer within the first inning helped the Braves keep their half-game lead over the Mets within the battle for the Nationwide League’s remaining Wild Card spot. By profitable the primary two video games of this collection, Atlanta has additionally halted a disturbing pattern by merely profitable the video games they’re presupposed to win.
The Braves misplaced two of three to the White Sox — who might file MLB’s worst file in trendy historical past — and likewise misplaced two of three final month to the Rockies, who personal the worst file within the NL.
This may be a well timed swing because the Braves are set to play 13 of their subsequent 17 video games in opposition to groups with a shedding file. The one video games in opposition to a crew with a profitable file inside this stretch will come throughout a four-game dwelling collection in opposition to the Dodgers from Sept. 13-16.
“On this enterprise, these ones you’re presupposed to win are laborious to win,” Snitker stated. “You by no means know whenever you’re going to face a crew and what sort of roll they might be on.”
Charlie Morton, in the meantime, restricted the Rockies to 2 runs over 5 innings. Braves beginning pitchers have now allowed three runs or fewer in 23 straight video games, the longest such streak within the league this yr, besting the 22-game run the Yankees had earlier. That is additionally the longest such streak because the Dodgers did so in 31 straight video games again in 2021.
Constant manufacturing on the prime of the lineup will likely be a key down the stretch. Olson struggled by means of the primary 4 months, however he has a .949 OPS over his previous 33 video games. Ozuna maintains an out of doors shot of profitable the NL’s Triple Crown. As for Soler, he was in a 3-for-42 skid coming into Wednesday earlier than he adopted Harris’ sixth-inning double with an RBI single.
However as Soler sits within the lineup’s second spot, he’s actually able to teaming with Ozuna and Olson to kind a robust trio that will profit from Harris’ manufacturing up prime.
Harris is 5-for-13 since shifting again into the leadoff spot on Sunday. It’s too early to proclaim that he’s the reply, nevertheless it’s getting too late to lastly discover any individual to fill what’s going to finally be a really influential function.
“I don’t really feel like I’ve any stress on me to step up much more,” Harris stated. “I’m simply doing my job and getting on base and enjoying good protection and being an excellent teammate.”
