The Braves took a major step toward winning the National League East on Tuesday when they opened a critical series against the Phillies with a 2-1 win. The three-game series, which opens the Braves’ final homestand, holds astronomical implications.
Essentially, the postseason started early for the two rivals. And with their first win, the Braves bumped the second-place Phillies to 3-1/2 games back.
Here are five takeaways from Tuesday:
1. The math now shifts even more heavily into the Braves’ favor to secure their fourth consecutive NL East title. If the Braves win the next two nights, completing the sweep, they’ll officially clinch the division Thursday. If they split the next two contests, they’ll simply need either one win in the final three-game series against the Mets or one Phillies loss in their final series against the Marlins.
“We have five games to play and they’re all huge,” manager Brian Snitker said. “The last few years, I’ve found getting the first win of an (important) series like this is big.”
If the Phillies rebound to win the next two games, it gets more complicated. The Braves would enter the final series up just 1-1/2 games, and if they and the Phillies finish separated by a half-game, the Braves would have to play an Oct. 4 make-up game against the Rockies.
2. But the Braves aren’t thinking so far ahead. They’re focused on continuing their promising start to the current series. In the first game, starter Charlie Morton showed why he’s developed a reputation as a big-game starter.
Despite navigating his share of traffic, Morton kept the Phillies scoreless for seven innings. He recorded 10 strikeouts, his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season. He dazzled with his curveball while pumping 96-mph fastballs. If the Braves make the postseason and tap Morton as their Game 1 starter, Tuesday was an example of why.
“The four-seam fastball tonight was the difference maker,” Morton said. “I had just enough life on it to get away with some pitches that were in not-great locations.”
He surrendered three hits, just one after the first inning. He issued a pair of two-out walks in the fourth – his only walks of the evening – that proved inconsequential. Morton held the Phillies to a 0-for-4 mark with runners in scoring position.
3. Phillies starter Zack Wheeler dominated the Braves in two of his three starts against them earlier in the year. The Braves needed every bit of Morton’s outing because Wheeler was phenomenal again, covering seven innings, though his performance didn’t match Morton’s.
The Braves broke through in the third inning. Catcher Travis d’Arnaud doubled and shortstop Dansby Swanson singled. Morton’s sacrifice bunt moved Swanson into scoring position, setting up outfielder Jorge Soler’s single to left that scored both baserunners.
“We got one big hit and it held up,” Snitker said.
4. Since joining the Braves at the trade deadline, Soler has had a penchant for clutch hits. It was just two games ago he had three hits, including the go-ahead knock in extras, in the Braves’ crazy comeback win in San Diego. Soler is hitting .319 with runners at second and third in his career.
Soler is one of the team’s most impactful deadline adds in recent memory. If the Braves win the division, his efforts against the Padres and Phillies, especially, won’t be forgotten.
Credit: Atlanta Braves
5. Closer Will Smith’s mantra might be, “If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space.” Once again, Smith endured a hectic final inning. Yet once again, he came out with the save.
Smith issued a lead-off walk to Bryce Harper. Defensive substitute Guillermo Heredia, right off the bench, made an outstanding play tracking down a liner to center from J.T. Realmuto for the first out.
Then came a pivotal mistake that was not Smith’s fault: Matt Vierling’s deep liner to left was dropped by Eddie Rosario, resulting in a two-base error. After Andrew McCutchen was intentionally walked, Didi Gregorius scored the Phillies’ first run with another hard-hit ball to right field. Smith fell behind Freddy Galvis 3-0 before striking him out swinging on the eighth pitch.
“Will did a great job,” Snitker said. “The last three days, he’s done nothing but answer the phone and deliver. I can’t see anything but positive in what Will is doing. This guy takes the ball, he pitches, throws every day. His stuff was probably as good today as the last four days he’d thrown.”
Stat to know
3 (The Braves’ magic number to clinch the division dropped to three.)
Quotable
“That’s exactly why we hired him.” - Snitker on Morton’s start
Up next
Lefty Max Fried (13-7, 3.12) will oppose Phillies righty Aaron Nola (9-8, 4.64) on Tuesday as the Braves try to move another day closer to a postseason berth.
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