The Daily Chop: Braves pick up win in crucial road series, Atlanta’s postseason odds, and more

Eight games remain. Atlanta holds a 1.5 game lead over the Phillies, courtesy of a brilliant start from Max Fried. Fried threw nine innings, his second Maddux of the season, retiring 27 Padres on 98 pitches.

Despite dropping the remainder of the suspended game from July, the bats came to life early in the first “official” game of the series as Austin Riley scorched a ball to right field to score Ozzie Albies. The remaining runs came off the bats of Dansby Swanson and Adam Duvall, who sealed the deal for a 4-0 Braves win.

Up next, the Braves take on the Padres for game two of the series with Huascar Ynoa (3.43 ERA) on the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15ET.

More Braves News:

• The Triple-A Stripers and Double-A Braves have moved onto the postseason and look to bring a championship to the farm.
• Braves prospect Vaughn Grissom has made a name for himself on the farm. The 20 year-old shortstop carries a .418 on-base percentage and has one of the biggest bats in the lineup.
• Battery Power, a new Braves YouTube show featuring Cory McCartney and Grant McAauley, drops on Monday.

MLB News:

• After 13 years, OF Carlos Gómez announced his retirement. Gómez ended his career with the Milwaukee Brewers.
• The Colorado Rockies have reinstated RHP Peter Lambert from the IL after Tommy John surgery. Lambert is expected to throw a maximum of 60n pitches in his return.
• The San Francisco Giants have signed OF Ka’ai Tom to a minor league contract. He will begin play in Triple-A Sacramento. Tom will not be eligible in the playoffs.
• The St. Louis Cardinals have activated RHP Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson from the IL. Flaherty is coming off of shoulder soreness, and Hudson underwent Tommy John surgery less than a year ago.
• Toronto Blue Jays reliever Ryan Borucki will miss the next two games against the Minnesota Twins after receiving a suspension for intentionally hitting Tampa Bay Rays’ Kevin Kiermaier.
• San Diego Padres catcher Austin Nola’s season has come to an end, as he will undergo thumb surgery. He is expected to make his return at Spring Training in 2022.
• Baltimore Orioles LHP Keegan Akin has been placed on the 10-day injured list and will undergo abdominal surgery in the future. He is expected to return in 2022.
• Tampa Bay Rays reliever Ryan Thompson will undergo thoracic outlet surgery, ending his 2021 season. He is expected to be ready by Opening Day in 2022.
• Detroit Tigers LHP Matthew Boyd will undergo flexor tendon surgery. The team did not provide a timetable for his return, but they are optimistic that he will be ready at some point in 2022.
• The Cleveland Indians activated RHP Shane Bieber from the 60-day injured list after recovering from a shoulder strain. Before his stint on the IL, Bieber pitched 90 ⅔ innings and posted a 3.28 ERA.
• The Houston Astros have placed RHP Zack Greinke on the 10-day IL with neck soreness, retroactive to Tuesday. In his last start, Greinke gave up five runs in four innings.

The St. Louis Cardinals are getting hot at the right time. They have tied the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics for the longest win streak of the season with 13 consecutive wins.