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Make no mistake....yesterday was one of those demoralizing days during a season that takes the wind out of everyone’s sails that every team goes through. Sometimes it is an injury to a key player, sometimes it is just a bad loss where nothing goes right. In yesterday’s case, it was both as the Braves got beat up by the Mets in the series finale AND they lost Mike Soroka for the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon.
The task before Max Fried now is to get the Braves back to playing winning baseball and the Braves don’t currently have anyone else on their staff that is more up to that task. Through his first two starts of the season, Max has posted a 2.31 ERA while utilizing not only a high octane fastball and his always good curve, but a newly impressive slider that has been getting some comical swings and misses. The Braves will need him to excellent on Tuesday in order to help shake the funk that is currently on the team
The Braves’ offense has been carried largely by Marcell Ozuna and Dansby Swanson in the early going, but keep an eye on Ronald Acuna Jr. as he looks like he is getting hot. After a really tough start to the season, Ronnie has hit safely in five of his past six games including in the last four straight games with four RBI along the way. Ozzie Albies, meanwhile, has struggled mightily as he deals with wrist soreness that has cost him a couple of starts. It will be interesting to see how he is handled today.
The Braves will also need more from Freddie Freeman as the Braves’ starting pitching staff has been decimated. Freddie did have one really great game against Tampa, but in the five games since, he has recorded just two hits.
The Blue Jays are coming off having a four game series postponed due to the Phillies’ exposure to the COVID-ridden Marlins, so it will be interesting to see that if that plus all of the drama surrounding their home park effects them in this series.
Getting the start for the Blue Jays, at least as of this writing, is Matt Shoemaker who has not pitched since July 25th due to the aforementioned postponements. His first start saw him go six innings while giving up one run in a loss to the Rays.
Game Date/Time: Monday, August 4, 7:10 p.m. EST
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: SNET-1, Fox Sports South
Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan, WNNX 100.5, Braves Radio Network, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM