The Atlanta Braves held a workout at Truist Park Wednesday before flying to Milwaukee for Friday’s Game 1 of the NLDS against the Brewers. Among the players in attendance were top prospects Cristian Pache and Shea Langeliers. Brian Snitker informed reporters that the club will have a taxi squad for the NLDS and that they will cut down the roster before Friday’s Game 1.
Langeliers appears to be an unlikely option for the NLDS. He spent the entire season at Double-A and saw just a few games with Gwinnett at the very end of the season. He was also announced Wednesday as part of the seven-player group that will take part in the Arizona Fall League which gets underway on October 13.
Pache could certainly fill a role as a defensive replacement and possible pinch runner but the Braves are already likely to carry five outfielders on their NLDS roster. Atlanta has until 11 a.m. ET on Friday to release its roster.
Braves News
Our NLDS preview continued Wednesday with a look at Milwaukee’s position player group. The Brewers struggled at times to score runs but they made up for it defensively throughout the 2021 season.
MLB.com’s Mark Bowman takes a closer look at Atlanta’s deadline deals that remade the ball club and jumpstarted their march to a fourth straight division championship.
Hall of Famers John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Chipper Jones recently spoke with MLB.com and gave their thoughts on this current Braves’ team and what they think their chances are for a successful October run.
MLB Playoffs
Chris Taylor hit a walk-off two-run home run in the ninth inning to push the Los Angeles Dodgers to the NLDS with a 3-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
MLB News
Mets Owner Steve Cohen spoke with former Cubs executive Theo Epstein in regards to running the team’s baseball operations earlier this week but both decided that he wasn’t a fit for the Mets’ position.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spoke with reporters Wednesday afternoon and outlined the club’s plans for the offseason. Per Dombrowski, the team will be looking for a middle of the order bat, bullpen help and perhaps a starting shortstop. Didi Gregorius signed a two-year deal last offseason but struggled in 2021 and Philadelphia could look for an upgrade.
No real surprise but the Padres made it official Wednesday announcing that manager Jayce Tingle won’t return as the team’s manager in 2022.
After their second half collapse, the Padres will reportedly prioritize strengthening their rotation this offseason with Marcus Stroman as someone who has been mentioned in internal discussions.
Red Sox outfielder/DH J.D. Martinez is still struggling with a left ankle injury and his status for the ALDS remains uncertain. The Red Sox outrighted infielders Jose Iglesias and Yairo Munoz giving them 39 players on their 40-man roster. That move would allow them a bit of extra flexibility in the event that Martinez can’t go before the ALDS begins Thursday.
The Cleveland Indians parted ways with hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo, who had been the longest tenured hitting coach in MLB.
Major League Baseball is reportedly preparing a policy that will require all minor league players to be vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to the start of next season.