Battery Power - May 16: Brewers 1, Braves 0Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braveshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52890/favicon-32x32..png2022-05-16T22:43:18-04:00http://www.batterypower.com/rss/stream/228950482022-05-16T22:43:18-04:002022-05-16T22:43:18-04:00Tyler Matzek to be placed on IL with shoulder inflammation, Tucker Davidson to start Tuesday
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/P0dN7gGWvwZuqIy16uuPCqA4KLk=/0x0:4239x2826/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70877043/usa_today_18047795.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Matzek has struggled after a legendary 2021 postseason.</p> <p id="nS9XVP">Tyler Matzek felt sore after throwing on Monday and will be placed on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation. In need of a starter for Tuesday’s game against the Brewers, Tucker Davidson will be recalled from Gwinnett to take Matzek’s place on the roster.</p>
<div id="xofZRE">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tyler Matzek is headed to the IL tomorrow with a shoulder issue. <br><br>Tucker Davidson is getting the start.</p>— Justin Toscano (@JustinCToscano) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinCToscano/status/1526390668184236033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="UlVdak">Following his heroic effort during the club’s 2021 World Series run, Matzek has struggled with command in the early going of the season. He owns a 5.06 ERA, 5.54 FIP and 6.11 xFIP fueled by a 19.1 percent walk rate. He has often missed high with his fastball, an indication not everything was sound structurally. Here’s hoping a few weeks away will get Tyler back to his prime form. The bullpen needs him healthy.</p>
<p id="vQJys4">Davidson broke camp with the club made a brief appearance during the opening week of the season but was sent down to Gwinnett afterwards. He’s made five starts with the Stripers and has pitched fairly well with a lot of strikeouts. As the Braves continue to search for a 5th starter it seemed Spencer Strider was in line to start Tuesday’s game, but he tossed two innings in relief as the Braves lifelessly lost again, 1-0.</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2022/5/16/23080968/tyler-matzek-injury-braves-tucker-davidsonScott Coleman2022-05-16T22:22:48-04:002022-05-16T22:22:48-04:00Ian Anderson quiets Brewers, but Braves offense silent in another dumb loss, 1-0
<figure>
<img alt="Atlanta Braves v Milwaukee Brewers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6W9kaUl48_Jz7g0E2cf_fKBaIlQ=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70877000/1397623348.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>...sigh</p> <p id="Yiex3V">After (another) annoying loss on Sunday and apparently a <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffSchultzATL/status/1526310853959720960?s=20&t=sxdWXCrVpMbwN1LhU6QejA">rough night at the hotel</a>, the Braves began their road trip with a series in Milwaukee and they would certainly have liked to get off to a good start with a win in the first game. </p>
<p id="bR5SHS">The Braves had a bit of a weird top of the first, as they had two baserunners from a .350 xBA single for Austin Riley and a Marcell Ozuna walk, but recorded outs on .760 and .680 xBA line drives from Matt Olson and Travis d’Arnaud, respectively. Ultimately, they failed to score. Ian Anderson looked decent in the first, with his velocity back up a few ticks to sit around 95. He gave up a single to Luis Urias and Christian Yelich reached on another Matt Olson error, before issuing a two out walk to load the bases, but he immediately got an infield pop-up for the final out. </p>
<p id="iu0LHw">After the first inning in which both team came one hit away from scoring the game’s first run but ultimately failed, both of the starting pitchers really settled in and never really looked to be in much danger of conceding a run through the fifth inning, despite the occasional baserunner for both. Peralta cruised through a perfect top of the sixth, but Ian gave up a one out double to Hunter Renfroe, who advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch one pitch before Tyrone Taylor lined out to end the inning, giving the Brewers a one run lead and the only run of the game up to that point. </p>
<p id="slRES6">Spencer Strider entered the game in the seventh for...reasons, despite no not having a starter decided for Tuesday’s game. The good news is that this was a situation in which the game was least close, so Strider being good is actually useful in terms of win probability. Strider got out of the inning scoreless, but did get handed a free out from some weird umpiring on a play where Ozzie appeared to let a ball drop and tossed it to second to start a double play, and despite him actually caught the ball in the air, the umpires gave the double-play on what is an un-challengeable play because the MLB replay system is nonsensical. </p>
<p id="SOab6y">The Braves offense did absolutely nothing in the eighth, but Strider did his job to keep it scoreless with two strikeouts along the way to give the Braves offense one more chance to do anything useful in this game in the ninth. Josh Hader came in to close for Milwaukee and he is about as tough of a task to score against as there is in the league, as he had not blown a save since early July, 2021. Josh Hader did Josh Hader things and struck out the side, although to be fair, he struck out Matt Olson on a full count pitch that was just off the plate. </p>
<p id="7BogkT">The Braves offense should have scored in the first inning, but only mustered a single baserunner after that, in the form of an infield single and that is not a winning formula. The Braves pitching was good enough that this is a game the Braves should have won, but the offense was silent after the first inning bad luck. </p>
<p id="LlThLr">Regardless, yet another annoying win in this still young, but aging season. Join us again tomorrow at the same time and same place for game 2 against Milwaukee. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2022/5/16/23078579/braves-vs-brewers-final-score-recap-ian-anderson-loss-1-0Daniel Hutchinson-Kausch2022-05-16T18:40:00-04:002022-05-16T18:40:00-04:00Game Thread 5/16/2022: Braves @ Brewers
<figure>
<img alt="San Diego Padres v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pKiX66z1h7H_pSF3XQOvVNuatK8=/0x0:4866x3244/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70876500/1240688962.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Join us and discuss today’s game</p> <p id="TbekeG">The Braves begin their three game away series in Milwaukee that will finish the season series with the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>. Apparently things have not started off well for the Braves on their road trip, as the Athletic’s Jeff Schultz <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffSchultzATL/status/1526310853959720960?s=20&t=sxdWXCrVpMbwN1LhU6QejA">reported</a> that the team’s hotel had issues with hot water and water pressure overnight. Hopefully the players were able to get clean and in the right mind space to play today. </p>
<p id="prWM2y">Regardless, Ian Anderson will take the mound for Atlanta, with Freddy Peralta getting the start for Milwaukee. You can read more about the pitching matchup in our <a href="https://www.batterypower.com/2022/5/16/23074401/atlanta-braves-vs-milwaukee-brewers-streaming-tv-radio-start-time-preview">game preview here</a>. The Statcast profile of each team’s starting lineup can be found below. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aA3PoDGMmfwmC1Ly_cMKmlID1CQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23481110/Lineups_4_23_22.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="qHKHkA">Ronald Acuna remains absent from the lineup with a groin issue despite Snitker saying that today could be the earliest he would return. He is <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinCToscano/status/1526314832726790147?s=20&t=sxdWXCrVpMbwN1LhU6QejA">reportedly</a> with the team in Milwaukee, however. William Contreras is also absent today as Travis d’Arnaud resumes his spot at catcher and Orlando Arcia gets the nod at DH. </p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2022/5/16/23077509/game-thread-5-16-2022-braves-brewersDaniel Hutchinson-Kausch2022-05-16T18:05:31-04:002022-05-16T18:05:31-04:00Acuña to miss Monday’s game against Brewers, likely to play tomorrow
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: Boston Red Sox at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rb8EBJ3viJWUWDvMVcLgdiv1Tp8=/0x0:4617x3078/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70876382/usa_today_18241014.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>While Ronnie is being held out of the lineup again, we did get some good news.</p> <p id="16zkyV">While the Braves have been struggling with offensive consistency, it has been understandable that fans across Braves country have been anxious about the return of Ronald Acuña Jr. to the lineup. Acuña immediately provided a spark to the lineup when he returned from knee surgery, but a groin injury has held him out for the last five games.</p>
<p id="8x09Hv">With each passing game without Acuña in the lineup, it had seemed like it was becoming more and more likely that he was going to have to go on the injured list. However, before Monday’s game against the Brewers, manager Brian Snitker did give a positive update as to Acuña’s status.</p>
<div id="6aIve3">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Snit said Acuña passed all the tests while running the bases and completing other exercises today. If he recovers well, Acuña will likely play tomorrow.</p>— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mlbbowman/status/1526318792774717442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2022</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="hqWTp7">As frustrating as it can be that Acuña has been held out with the team struggling to get going, it is admirable that the team is prioritizing Acuña’s health over potential short-term gains on the field. If the Braves are going to figure things out this season, it is likely going to require a healthy and productive Ronnie the rest of the way. The Braves were aggressive in getting him playing time coming off the knee surgery, but they are clearly willing to adjust their game plan very quickly if he needs some time.</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2022/5/16/23077875/atlanta-braves-news-acuna-misses-game-against-brewers-returning-tuesdayEric Cole2022-05-16T14:00:00-04:002022-05-16T14:00:00-04:00Braves look to put Sunday behind them against the Brewers
<figure>
<img alt="MLB: Boston Red Sox at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/P__efSP7SC6lYEZcSX7c-JUAh6o=/0x0:5120x3413/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70875297/usa_today_18247759.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Let’s make today better than yesterday</p> <p id="PETfGx">Well Sunday’s game was going great until it was going bad and then it was horrible, so here’s hoping that Atlanta’s first game of a three game series at the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a> will get that bad taste out of our mouths. Ian Anderson will take the mound for Atlanta and he has been...fine this season. Ian has been fairly average and he has had less success with his fastball and curveball than last season. His Statcast profile generally outlines his overall averageness this season. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CZex3HSw32cia95hjat_e75ED_c=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23470295/_statcast_graphic.jpg">
</figure>
<p id="cZskM3">That Ian has lost about two MPH on his average fastball is likely part of the problem, but when both his strikeout and walk rates have moved about 25% in the wrong respective directions, it’s obviously very bad. With that being said, the actual run-prevention has generally been fine. Let’s hope that his actual pitching can improve, even just to return to his baseline from last year. </p>
<p id="bwGu5G">On the other side, Freddie Peralta will take the mound for Milwaukee. Peralta (4.40 ERA) has had similar run prevention outcomes to Anderson (4.20 ERA), but his peripherals are actually in the range of good to great, with a 3.40 xERA, 2.39 FIP, and 3.11 xFIP. Peralta’s Statcast profile also has much more red than Ian’s. Peralta throws his low-mid 90s fastball about 55% of the time and it is a pretty effective pitch, especially by the standards of fastballs, which hitters tend to have decent success against. The fastball has actually been Peralta’s most effective pitch according to xwOBA by a wide margin this season. He mixes in a slider, curveball, and changeup the rest of the time, none of which have been particularly effective this season by xwOBA, but were quite effective last season in a sample that was obviously much larger. </p>
<p id="1Pct5M">Offensively, Dansby Swanson continues to put together one of his hot streaks, as Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna have perhaps shown some signs of breaking out of their slumps. Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies have continued to struggle. Ronald Acuna could potentially return to the lineup today after missing the last four games with a groin injury, and that would obviously be a huge help to the Atlanta offense. Regardless, the Braves need to get more than half of their offense fully functioning at the same time. </p>
<p id="HVrU8T"><strong>Game Info</strong></p>
<p id="6wYphj"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a> @ Milwaukee Brewers</p>
<p id="Nwfl62">Monday, May 16, 2022</p>
<p id="hzn1oi">7:40 PM EDT</p>
<p id="VPYSPx">American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI</p>
<p id="4jdyPJ">TV: Bally Sports South</p>
<p id="6c12a1">Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan</p>
<p id="62XOiI">XM Radio: Ch. 175</p>
<p id="6MYzop"></p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2022/5/16/23074401/atlanta-braves-vs-milwaukee-brewers-streaming-tv-radio-start-time-previewDaniel Hutchinson-Kausch