Battery Power - World Series Game 5: Astros 9, Braves 5Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braveshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52890/favicon-32x32..png2021-11-01T08:44:39-04:00http://www.batterypower.com/rss/stream/225198582021-11-01T08:44:39-04:002021-11-01T08:44:39-04:00Pitching decisions loom large for Braves in Game 5 loss
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<p>An early four-run lead went up in smoke.</p> <p id="reYU7G">For the majority of the postseason, Brian Snitker and the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> have been nearly perfect as they navigated the postseason. Whether it was managing a bullpen game or making the decision to pull a starter early, they have pretty much nailed it. Dylan Lee struggled as an opener in Game 4 retiring just one batter before Kyle Wright bailed them out. The decision making wasn’t at fault, the execution was. However, in Game 5 they went away from what had worked previously and the result was a loss. </p>
<p id="vXd8l5">No one ever said it was going to be easy and having two straight bullpen games isn’t something many teams would choose to do. The Braves were thrust into that position after Charlie Morton was lost to a fractured fibula in Game 1. </p>
<p id="gT50df">“When we won yesterday, it made it easier, I guess, coming into this one, but we knew it was going to be tough,” Snitker said of the challenge of navigating two straight bullpen games. “That’s just a lot of innings to cover against a club like this that swings a bat so well.”</p>
<p id="lfOssb">The Braves tabbed rookie Tucker Davidson to start. When Snitker was asked about Davidson before the game, he indicated that the team was shifting strategy and that Davidson wouldn’t be an opener but would instead go as far as he could take the team. He put up a zero in the first and faced just three batters. Adam Duvall put Atlanta ahead with a grand slam off of Framber Valdez. </p>
<p id="a97jnI">Davidson went back out for the second and retired Yordan Alvarez but then found himself in a jam quickly. Yuli Gurriel singled and Kyle Tucker walked before Alex Bregman plated the first run with a double to right center. The bullpen remained quiet and Martin Maldonado lifted a sacrifice fly that cut the lead in half at 4-2. </p>
<p id="xajESM">Despite his struggles in the second, Davidson hit for himself in the third. The inning got off to a tough start when Jose Altuve reached on an error by Dansby Swanson. Davidson then walked Michael Brantley and was replaced by Jesse Chavez. Three batters later, Atlanta’s four-run lead was gone. </p>
<p id="0dA1XY">“Probably 75 pitches,” Snitker said when asked about how long they were hoping Davidson could go. “Even after two, that’s just a lot of game to cover with some guys down. We were going to try to stretch him as far as we could, and I think we did.”</p>
<p id="d1SuT0">Davidson made it 53 pitches but labored through the second and then hit for himself. Coming out of Game 4, the thinking was that Wright would be the only pitcher down for Game 5. If that wasn’t the case then maybe that explains the decision to stick with Davidson. Chavez entered with traffic and the Braves were kind of chasing things from that point on from a pitching perspective. I won’t say the decision cost them the game since Freddie Freeman gave them back the lead with a homer in the home half of the third but there is a big difference between a four-run cushion and a one-run lead. </p>
<p id="3pO5kb">Chavez retired two batters in the fourth but gave way to A.J. Minter who struck out Brantley to end the inning. However, he was due up third the next inning and was forced to hit for himself. That wasn’t really a self inflicted wound but was more of a byproduct of how the first three innings had gone. </p>
<p id="uShZjS">Minter struggled in the fifth, sandwiching a strikeout in between singles by Correa and Gurriel. Tucker grounded out to put runners at second and third and the Braves elected to walk Bregman and face Maldonado. This decision ruffled some people on line but looked like the right call considering he had a .527 OPS this season. However, Minter walked him and forced in the tying run. Marwin Gonzalez followed with a two run single and suddenly Atlanta trailed 7-5. </p>
<p id="xvY3cn">“I wouldn’t even call it a bad outing. I felt my stuff was just as sharp tonight as it was in other outings, Minter said of the fifth. “I felt like I was 1-2, 0-2 on every hitter. Those guys made quality swings on two strikes.”</p>
<p id="wYjpjz">“I guess I could have made some better pitches with two strikes, but with Correa, I got him 0-2, left a cutter up, base hit,” He added. “Got a good strikeout against Alvarez. And then Gurriel, cutter, backdoor cutter. He stuck his bat out there and had a good hit as well.” </p>
<p id="BPEmLV">“Obviously with Maldonado, I could tell he was going up there trying to work a walk. For me, it was just I tried to aim the ball instead of just driving it to the mitt. That’s obviously the one thing I would take back. And then a flare shot to score two runs, just like that.” </p>
<p id="J8nDnO">“I’m not worried about it. I’ve been pitching good and feeling good, and I’m still feeling good. I’ll be ready to go Game 6.”</p>
<p id="UUjnav">Chris Martin got them out of the fifth and then tossed a scoreless sixth. Still trailing, Snitker went to Drew Smyly who allowed single runs in the seventh and eighth to get us to the final margin of 9-5. Maybe he pulled the plug too soon as a two-run lead is quite manageable. However, the game was lost much earlier when that four-run lead was squandered. </p>
<p id="gH99kz">The loss stings, but the Braves are still in good position. They will have Max Fried on full rest in Game 6 with Tyler Matzek, Luke Jackson and Will Smith fully rested and ready to go. </p>
<p id="mrDzRH">“It’s good. He’s ready to go,” Snitker said of Fried. “We had him in reserve if something happened today. If we got locked up in extra innings or whatever, we were going to run him down there and possibly use him today also. I always feel good when Max pitches. He always gives you a chance to win. Like I say, our bullpen is in good shape. Max has got full rest, and we should be good to go.”</p>
<p id="xRnO56">Maybe the bullpen was in worse shape coming into Game 5 than was known. Matzek, Jackson and Smith had pitched in two straight games but hadn’t thrown a ton of pitches and Monday’s off day would have provided some cover. Maybe they changed strategy because of Lee’s struggles in Game 4. Whatever the reason, it didn’t work and a four-run lead in a potential elimination game was squandered. The benefit of being up 3-1 in a series is that you get three chances to close it out. Well, they have two left. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/11/1/22757026/2021-world-series-game-5-brian-snitker-postgame-tucker-davidson-aj-minterKris Willis2021-11-01T00:16:24-04:002021-11-01T00:16:24-04:00Braves squander early lead in 9-5 loss to Astros
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<p>The series shifts back to Houston. </p> <p id="yPFdVj">The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> jumped out to an early lead in Game 5 but watched it slip away in a 9-5 loss to the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a>. Atlanta still holds a 3-2 edge in the series which will resume Tuesday in Houston. </p>
<p id="2kHoTp">The Braves needed to put some pressure on the Astros and Framber Valdez and they did just that in the first. Jorge Soler singled off the glove of Alex Bregman to get things started. After a fly out by Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies grounded into a fielder’s choice but beat the relay throw at first to prolong the inning. Austin Riley followed with a single and then Eddie Rosario worked a walk to load the bases. That would bring Adam Duvall to the plate who jumped on a 95 mph sinker and drove it out to right center for a grand slam to give Atlanta a 4-0 lead. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">A GRAND START FOR THE BRAVES. <a href="https://t.co/hoM6BRpo4N">pic.twitter.com/hoM6BRpo4N</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1454970615568416768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a>
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<p id="idozkt">Houston answered against Davidson in the second. Yuli Gurriel hit a one-out single and then moved to second on a walk by Kyle Tucker. Alex Bregman, who was dropped to seventh in the order, doubled to the gap in right center. Gurriel scored to cut Atlanta’s lead to 4-1. The Astros weren’t finished as Martin Maldonado lifted a sacrifice fly to center that scored Tucker to make it 4-2. Despite giving up the grand slam in the first, Dusty Baker allowed Valdez to hit for himself and Davidson struck him out to end the inning. </p>
<p id="qYi6Hi">Dansby Swanson grounded out to start the second and Brian Snitker elected to leave Davidson in to hit for himself. Snitker said before the game that they weren’t going to treat Davidson as an opener and would let him go as far as he could. He struck out and then Soler grounded out to send the game to the third. </p>
<p id="FMttEB">Jose Altuve reached on an error by Swanson to begin the third. Davidson then walked Brantley to put runners at first and second. He was replaced by Jesse Chavez who promptly allowed a double to Carlos Correa to make it 4-3. Chavez got Yordan Alvarez to fly out for the first out. Gurriel then grounded back up the middle to Swanson who threw to first for the second out. Brantley scored on the play to tie game. Chavez got Bregman to fly out to escape further damage. </p>
<p id="zylgSb">Given the success Atlanta has had with bullpen games this postseason, sending Davidson back out for the third was an odd choice and it would loom large over the remainder of the game. </p>
<p id="EP9Q5D">After retiring the side in order in the second, Baker stuck with Valdez to start the third. Freeman led off the inning with a monstrous 460 foot home run to right center to put the Braves back in front 5-4. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Come on and take a Free ride!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BattleATL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BattleATL</a> <a href="https://t.co/EM1cKHibTs">pic.twitter.com/EM1cKHibTs</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1454983750526308359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a>
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<p id="geCgFi">Valdez retired Albies and Austin Riley but then issued another free pass to Rosario. That would be it for him as he was replaced by Yimi Garcia who struck out Duvall for the final out. </p>
<p id="xz4O5o">Chavez stayed in to start the fourth for Atlanta. Maldonado began the inning with a ground out. Zack Greinke then pinch-hit for Garcia and singled to right. Chavez got Altuve to fly out and then gave way to A.J. Minter who blew away Brantley with a 96 mph heater to end the frame. </p>
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<p lang="sv" dir="ltr">AJ Minter, 96mph ⛽️ <a href="https://t.co/C02RmRMdaf">pic.twitter.com/C02RmRMdaf</a></p>— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href="https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1454991631946498058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a>
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<p id="qxy1Ae">Baker then went to their scheduled Game 6 starter Jose Urquidy. Travis d’Arnaud singled to lead off the inning. Swanson flew out for the first out. Rather than burn Minter after facing just one hitter, he hit for himself and popped up a bunt attempt for the second out. Soler grounded to Altuve for the third out. </p>
<p id="DBCbVX">Minter quickly found himself in trouble in the fifth as Correa got things started with a single. Alvarez struck out but Gurriel singled again to put runners at first and second. Both runners moved up 90 feet on a ground out by Tucker. The Braves then elected to walk Bregman to load the bases and face Maldonado. However, Minter fell behind 3-1 and then walked him to force in the tying run. </p>
<p id="CkJ5Kz">Things would get worse for the Braves as pinch-hitter Marwin Gonzalez dumped a single to left that scored both Gurriel and Bregman to make it 7-5. Minter was replaced by Chris Martin who struck out Altuve to bring the inning to an end. </p>
<p id="VrrAJc">Riley doubled with two outs off of Phil Maton in the fifth but Rosario grounded out to leave him stranded. Martin stayed in for the sixth and sat the Astros down in order. d’Arnaud reached on a one out single in the bottom of the sixth but Maton struck out Swanson and then got pinch-hitter Joc Pederson to pop out in foul territory. </p>
<p id="yrJTCZ">Trailing by two runs, the Braves went to Drew Smyly for the seventh. He struck out Gurriel to begin the inning but Tucker followed with a double to the right field corner. Bregman popped out but Maldonado followed with a single that scored Tucker to extend Houston’s lead to 8-5. Smyly then struck out Chas McCormick but the Astros tacked on another run to the lead. </p>
<p id="zpqkO6">The Astros tacked on another run in the eighth. Jose Altuve singled but was then picked off however, Freeman’s throw to second was late. He advanced to third on a ground out by Brantley and then scored on a single by Correa to make it 9-5. Kendall Graveman worked a scoreless eighth and ninth for the Astros to close it out. </p>
<p id="sHVNSJ">The Braves will have Monday to regroup before the series resumes in Houston Tuesday. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/11/1/22756490/2021-world-series-game-5-braves-vs-astros-final-scoreKris Willis2021-10-31T19:30:00-04:002021-10-31T19:30:00-04:00World Series Game 5: Astros vs Braves game thread
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<p id="3akpdH">The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> will be looking to lock down their first championship since 1995 Sunday night in Game 5 of the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> against the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a>. The Braves won Games 3 and 4 in Atlanta and are undefeated at Truist Park this season. Atlanta will go with another bullpen game in Game 5 with Tucker Davidson announced as the starter. Houston will go with Game 1 starter Framber Valdez. </p>
<p id="4ktgQd">Sunday’s game is scheduled to get underway at 8:15 p.m. ET and can be seen on FOX. </p>
<p id="6SyWCv"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/10/31/22755730/2021-world-series-game-5-braves-astros-preview-bullpen-framber-valdez">PREVIEW</a> | <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/e/22520129">LINEUPS</a></p>
<p id="v2tL6U"><strong>Pregame Updates</strong></p>
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<li id="XUfOWa"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/10/31/22755894/braves-astros-pitching-tucker-davidson-game-five">Tucker Davidson to start Game 5 for Braves</a></li>
<li id="6mxO9K"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/10/31/22756271/2021-world-series-game-5-brian-snitker-pregame-tucker-davidson-luke-jackson">Brian Snitker discusses starting Tucker Davidson in Game 5</a></li>
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<h3 id="Ur20C1"><strong>Series Recap</strong></h3>
<ul>
<li id="lnsO0X"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/10/26/22747035/world-series-game-1-braves-vs-astros-preview-lineups-recap">World Series Game 1: Braves 6, Astros 2</a></li>
<li id="gvlMyo"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/10/27/22749099/world-series-game-2-braves-vs-astros-preview-lineups-recap">World Series Game 2: Astros 7, Braves 2</a></li>
<li id="BPN8Sk"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/10/29/22753466/world-series-game-3-astros-vs-braves-preview-lineups-recap">World Series Game 3: Braves 2, Astros 0</a></li>
<li id="0YP2L5"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2021/10/30/22754189/world-series-game-4-astros-vs-braves-preview-lineups-recap">World Series Game 4: Braves 3, Astros 2</a></li>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/31/22756106/world-series-game-5-astros-vs-braves-game-thread-discussionKris Willis2021-10-31T16:55:26-04:002021-10-31T16:55:26-04:00Brian Snitker discusses starting Tucker Davidson in Game 5
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<p>Snitker said they will stick with Davidson “for as long as he’ll let us take him.”</p> <p id="MQqRQx">The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> are one win away from securing their first <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> crown since 1995. The players understand the magnitude of the moment but they are still taking a one game at a time approach. The <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> now have their backs against the wall but won’t go away quietly. Sunday’s start would have gone to Charlie Morton before he suffered a fractured fibula in Game 1. Instead, it will be rookie left-hander Tucker Davidson who made just four starts at the major league level before suffering a forearm injury that essentially wiped out the remainder of the regular season. </p>
<p id="h5LQnd">The Braves went with an opener in Game 4, but Brian Snitker said that Davidson would start Game 5 and that they will go with him as long as they can. </p>
<p id="H98xLT">“He’s going to start the game, and we’ll just go with him as long as he’ll let us take him,” Snitker said when asked about Davidson’s role for Sunday. “It’s pretty much like Kyle, just progress he had made in Gwinnett. He’d had some outings, was throwing the ball well, feels good, got stretched out. Like I say, very similar to the discussions we had about Kyle.”</p>
<p id="B0GFkW">Wright came up big for the Braves in Game 4 allowing one run over 4 2/3 innings despite pitching in and out of trouble. He gave the team a chance to win and they are looking for something similar from Davidson. </p>
<p id="KJYzG8">Snitker said that he called Davidson Sunday morning to tell him he was starting. </p>
<p id="fxaZ2G">“Honestly, I called him this morning,” Snitker said. “Again, these young guys that are going through this for the first time, for their benefit, like I said with Dylan yesterday, and I know their phones have been blowing up and would be and processing a lot. I called Tucker, and he said,”let’s do it.”</p>
<p id="XJE0IC">“He’s ready. He’s another one that he’s been through all the levels of all our organization, and we really liked what we saw out of him early in the year before he had his problems.”</p>
<p id="IDZKcI">Davidson made a rehab start at Gwinnett the final weekend of the season and continued to work at the alternate training site throughout the postseason just in case he was needed. His call came when Morton was lost to injury. It is a huge spot for a rookie to find himself in, but his teammates think he will do just fine. </p>
<p id="6uIOwj">“He’s kind of loose right now,” Will Smith said when asked about Davidson. “He actually walked in and said good morning, and we’re like, Tucker, it’s 3:15, so good afternoon. He’s the way he is. We’ve got a loose group. Nobody is going to put a ton of pressure on themselves. We know what we have to do. It’s as simple as that.</p>
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<p id="YLwNht">Lost in the heroics of the back-to-back home runs by Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler in Game 4, was an unbelievable catch by Eddie Rosario at the wall on a deep drive by Jose Altuve. Luke Jackson was on the mound when Rosario made that catch and he was asked for his reaction. </p>
<p id="yn66tb">“I mean, at first I thought like, okay, fly ball to left — because I saw him reach out a little bit for it,” Jackson said. “Then he kept getting closer to the wall, closer to the wall and I don’t have good eyesight in general, so I have no idea even if he caught the ball or not. But I saw him jump up. I saw Dansby put his hands up. I was like, yeah, third in line on the reaction.</p>
<p id="bPSQdc">You know, he’s a good hitter. I tip my cap. What a play by Rosario. I think that’s why he’s got the nickname Super Rosario right now.”</p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/31/22756271/2021-world-series-game-5-brian-snitker-pregame-tucker-davidson-luke-jacksonKris Willis2021-10-31T16:06:36-04:002021-10-31T16:06:36-04:00Jorge Soler returns to the leadoff spot for Braves in Game 5
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<p>The Braves will try to end the series in Game 5. </p> <p id="CuJ82z">The <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> will continue Sunday night with the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> trying to close things out in Game 5 against the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a>. Atlanta came from behind Saturday night in Game 4 to win 3-2 giving them a 3-1 edge in the series. The Braves will go with another bullpen game Sunday with Tucker Davidson getting the start. The Astros will go with Game 1 starter Framber Valdez who will be trying to bounce back from a rough outing. </p>
<p id="BCFiPs">With a left-hander on the mound, the Braves will make some adjustments to their lineup. Jorge Soler moves back into the leadoff spot with Eddie Rosario dropping to fifth in the order. Adam Duvall hits sixth and will be followed by Travis d’Arnaud and Dansby Swanson. </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Game 5.<br><br>Presented by <a href="https://twitter.com/TruistNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TruistNews</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BattleATL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BattleATL</a> <a href="https://t.co/ozYzJz0Upo">pic.twitter.com/ozYzJz0Upo</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1454881690602639362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a>
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<p id="Ua2CTR">Faced with a must-win situation, Dusty Baker is shaking up the Astros’ lineup for Game 5. Carlos Correa moves up to the third spot in the order. Alex Bregman is 1-for-14 in the series and drop down to the seventh spot in the order. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">GAME 5: Bregman hitting 7th<br><br>Jose Altuve 2B<br>Michael Brantley RF<br>Carlos Correa SS<br>Yordan Alvarez LF<br>Yuli Gurriel 1B<br>Kyle Tucker CF<br>Alex Bregman 3B<br>Martin Maldonado C<br>Framber Valdez LHP</p>— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/1454900996275122179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 31, 2021</a>
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<p id="ysyuzK">Game 5 is scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and can be seen on FOX. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/31/22756088/2021-world-series-game-5-lineups-braves-astros-jorge-solerKris Willis2021-10-31T12:35:09-04:002021-10-31T12:35:09-04:00World Series: Tucker Davidson to start Game 5 for Braves
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<p>Davidson pitched well in June before an injury shut him down for most of the year</p> <p id="xxeXaZ">The Braves will turn to Tucker Davidson as their Game 5 World Series starter on Sunday night. With a win, the club will win its first championship in a quarter-century.</p>
<p id="cEGbRm">It’s an incredible turn of events for Davidson, 25, who was not on the original World Series roster and has not pitched in a big league game since June. Davidson was added to the roster earlier this week following Charlie Morton’s injury in Game 1. </p>
<p id="pCm6Tx">Davidson made four starts for the Braves in June and pitched well to the tune of a 3.60 ERA (4.52 FIP, 4.42 xFIP) across 20 innings. Unfortunately a forearm strain during his start on June 15 cut his regular season short, although he continued to rehab with Triple-A Gwinnett over the summer months. Now, he is a few hours away from opening the World Series.</p>
<p id="VnWW0R">The Braves opted to start reliever Dylan Lee in Game 4 and it did not go well as Lee lasted just four batters and loaded the bases.</p>
<p id="BiGeBr">The Astros will start Framber Valdez tonight, who started Game 1 of the series but did not fare well. He surrendered five runs in 2+ innings, including a leadoff homer to Jorge Soler and two-run shot to Adam Duvall.</p>
<p id="pqabcb">First pitch is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on FOX.</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/31/22755894/braves-astros-pitching-tucker-davidson-game-fiveScott Coleman2021-10-31T12:00:00-04:002021-10-31T12:00:00-04:00Braves look for one more win to end championship drought
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<img alt="World Series - Atlanta Braves v Houston Astros - Game Four" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/2r8iik2CY-Le9hjRFxoeU6qRuGI=/0x176:2057x1547/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70070827/1350345148.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Atlanta can capture its first World Series crown since 1995 with a win Sunday night. </p> <p id="vKZKy5">The <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> moved a step closer with a 3-2 win Saturday night, they can finish the job Sunday when the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a> continues with Game 5 against the <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a>. The Braves took a 3-1 lead in the series Saturday night thanks to another great performance by the bullpen along with back-to-back seventh inning home runs by Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler. </p>
<p id="KDU9Sh">Atlanta’s offense has done just enough in this series but enough hasn’t been said for the job the pitching staff has done against Houston’s high powered offense. The Astros led the majors in runs scored, wRC+ and fWAR during the regular season. They trailed the <a href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Boston Red Sox</a> 2-1 in the ALCS but then rallied to win three straight outscoring Boston 23-3 over the final three games. </p>
<p id="nLAkkL">Houston has scored a total of 11 runs in the first four games of the series and seven of those came in their Game 2 win. They had ample opportunities in Game 4 but were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base. </p>
<p id="ZPpAYl">The Braves know full well the potential of Houston’s offense and that their best bet is to close this series out in Atlanta rather than return to Texas for the final two games of the series. </p>
<p id="VFloNO">Atlanta would have had Charlie Morton lined up to start on Sunday but he was lost for the series after a line drive to his lower leg resulted in a fractured fibula. Instead the Braves will go with another bullpen game. Following Saturday’s win, Brian Snitker wasn’t ready to announce who will start Game 5 but he will have several options. </p>
<p id="nH6szz">Neither A.J. Minter or Jesse Chavez pitched in Game 4 and both have served as openers in the past. Tucker Davidson and Drew Smyly are also available to serve as multi-inning options. Luke Jackson, Tyler Matzek and Will Smith all pitched in Games 3 and 4 but, with an off day Monday, would be called on again late if the game is close or the Braves have the lead.</p>
<p id="Ga8rdW">The Astros will go with Game 1 starter Framber Valdez in Game 5. Valdez struggled in the opener allowing eight hits and five runs in just two innings in the opener. However, he was put in a similar situation in the ALCS and responded well. Valdez started Game 1 against the Red Sox and didn’t make it out of the third inning allowing six hits, three walks and three runs although only two were earned. He came back in Game 5 and was lights out allowing three hits and one run over eight solid innings in one of the best starts of the postseason. </p>
<p id="uTK3UY">Swanson and Soler came up big for the Braves in Game 4 but Eddie Rosario continues to be the star of the postseason. He added two more hits in Game 4 and made a highlight catch in left to end the eighth. His 23 postseason hits tie Marquis Grissom’s 1996 total for the second most in franchise history. Grissom holds the franchise record with 25 set in 1995. Those 23 hits are the third most by a left-handed hitter in postseason history trailing only Darin Erstad (25) and Tino Martinez (24)</p>
<p id="v7gBw3">Austin Riley also had two hits in Game 4 and drove home Rosario in the sixth to plate Atlanta’s first run. Riley is 5-for-17 in the series with two doubles and three runs batted in. </p>
<p id="Mpf70q">Houston’s Alex Bregman went 0-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts in Game 4. He is now 1-for-14 in the series and Dusty Baker said following Saturday’s loss that he would consider dropping him in the order for Game 5. </p>
<p id="bYfteH">Sunday’s game is scheduled to get underway at 8:15 p.m. ET and can be seen on FOX. </p>
<h3 id="t1onbq"><strong>Game Info</strong></h3>
<p id="2hqNzP"><strong>Game Date/Time:</strong> Sunday, October 31, 8:15 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="N4vUNY"><strong>Location:</strong> Truist Park, Atlanta, GA</p>
<p id="cFCqin"><strong>TV:</strong> FOX</p>
<p id="CYVZzJ"><strong>Radio:</strong> 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, WNNX 100.5, Braves Radio Network</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/31/22755730/2021-world-series-game-5-braves-astros-preview-bullpen-framber-valdezKris Willis2021-10-31T05:00:00-04:002021-10-31T05:00:00-04:00How to watch Game 5 of the World Series between the Braves and the Astros
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<img alt="2021 World Series Game 3: Houston Astros v. Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HA5wMQ8t5SH35QMWTEC3olVQkhM=/0x0:6720x4480/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70069637/1236215107.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Everything you need to know to follow along in Game 5</p> <p id="A28DsB">After another thrilling win Saturday night in Game 4, the Atlanta Braves will have a chance to claim their first championship since 1995 in Game 5 of the World Series Sunday night. The Braves will go with another bullpen game Sunday but have not yet determined who will start. Game 1 starter Framber Valdez will be on the mound for the Astros. </p>
<h3 id="O05EQv"><strong>Game 5 Info</strong></h3>
<p id="x6eNj9">Game Date/Time: Sunday, October 31, 8:09 p.m. ET </p>
<p id="uwkRXs">Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia</p>
<h2 id="7a6ItA">
<strong>Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros </strong><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series"><strong>World Series</strong></a><strong> schedule</strong>
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<p id="kOlhXe">Game 1: Braves 6, Astros 2 (<em>Atlanta leads 1-0</em>)<br>Game 2: Astros 7, Braves 2 (<em>Series tied 1-1</em>)<br>Game 3: Braves 2, Astros 0 (<em>Atlanta leads 2-1</em>)<br>Game 4: Braves 3, Astros 2 (<em>Atlanta leads 3-1</em>)<br>Game 5: Astros at Braves, Sunday, October 31st, 8:15 p.m. ET, FOX<br>Game 6*: Braves at Astros, Tuesday, November 2nd, 8:09 p.m. ET, FOX<br>Game 7*: Braves at Astros, Wednesday, November 3rd, 8:09 p.m. ET, FOX</p>
<p id="pBeIi5"><em>*If Necessary</em></p>
<h3 id="PT8Yun"><strong>TV Info</strong></h3>
<p id="d45nyr">The World Series will be broadcast exclusively on FOX with Joe Buck and John Smoltz on the call for the sixth consecutive season. Ken Rosenthal will be the on the field reporter while Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Frank Thomas will be on the pregame. </p>
<h3 id="xGcgb9"><strong>Radio</strong></h3>
<p id="1THTvr">The game will be broadcast on the Braves Radio Network with Joe Simpson and Ben Ingram on the call. It will also be available via ESPN Radio. </p>
<h3 id="eHQHsR"><strong>Odds</strong></h3>
<p id="DOSYYE">Game 5 odds <a href="https://dksb.sng.link/As9kz/w25s?_dl=https%3A%2F%2Fsportsbook.draftkings.com%2Fgateway%3Fs%3D325181840%26wpcid%3D163863%26wpcn%3DSBNation%26wpsrc%3DVox%26wpcrid%3DMLB&pcid=163863&pcn=SBNation&pscn=MLB&pcrid=MLB&psn=Vox">per DraftKings Sportsbook</a></p>
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https://www.batterypower.com/2021/10/31/22755236/2021-world-series-game-5-braves-astros-time-tv-radioKris Willis