PHILADELPHIA — On a video conference call ahead of the team’s flight to Philadelphia, Braves manager Brian Snitker said the club had not yet decided on a starting pitcher for Wednesday’s Game 3 of the National League Division Series versus the Phillies.
“There’s a lot of things,” Snitker said when asked about the variables the Braves are considering. “If we wanna do an opener, who’s gonna follow up if we decide to do that, if we wanna just go the traditional route. There’s just a lot of different scenarios that we’re looking at.”
It would seem the options are Bryce Elder, AJ Smith-Shawver, an opener in front of either of them or a bullpen game. The series is tied 1-1, and Wednesday’s Game 3 could serve as valuable momentum for whoever wins.
On the call, Snitker said the club would finalize its plans after he finished speaking with reporters. The manager said the Braves are leaning one way and simply had to make it official.
Elder, an All-Star this season, finished with a 3.81 ERA. He faced the Phillies twice in the regular season, and allowed four earned runs over 10-2/3 innings. But he had a 5.11 ERA after the All-Star break.
“Total confidence in Bryce,” catcher Sean Murphy said. “I know what kind of competitor he is, person he is. I know he wants the ball, too. If Bryce gets his name called, glad to go out there and call the game for him. I know he’s chomping at the bit to get out there, so I think he’s as capable, if not more capable, than anyone else on the staff.”
Then there’s Smith-Shawver, the 20-year-old power arm with better stuff. He should be able to get more swing and miss. The Phillies haven’t yet seen him. But he’s 20. And Citizens Bank Park will be loud – very loud. It would be quite a challenge for his postseason debut.
“He’s obviously one of the guys in the conversation,” Snitker said. “We weigh all that stuff in our discussions. It is a wild scenario there.”
Added A.J. Minter, who worked out with Smith-Shawver last offseason: “He can be a horse on the mound.”
What about an opener? If, for example, the Braves believe the Phillies will have lefties Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in spots 1 and 3, respectively, in the lineup, would they use Minter or Brad Hand as an opener? This way, Elder or Smith-Shawver wouldn’t face the top of the lineup immediately.
Asked what would lead the Braves in the direction of using an opener, Snitker said: “Potential lineups, things like that. Who’s available. It’s just ongoing discussion as to what we’re going to do.”
In the 2021 NLCS, Minter threw three scoreless innings to open a game against the Dodgers. In the 2021 World Series, Dylan Lee allowed a run and collected an out as an opener.
The Braves used openers and executed bullpen games during the 2021 postseason, which culminated with a parade and a ring. With an off-day Tuesday, and another one Friday, perhaps they would do a bullpen game and not use Elder or Smith-Shawver. But this seems unlikely.
What does seem fairly certain: The leash will be short. The Braves cannot afford to let the Phillies build momentum in front of what’ll be a raucous home crowd. Last postseason, the Braves saw what happened when these Phillies got on a roll in front of their fans.
Much has been made of the Game 3 pitching plans, but don’t forget this: The Braves’ offense is powerful enough to win games on its own.
Once the Braves get through Game 3, they’ll have Spencer Strider for Game 4 and Max Fried for a potential Game 5.
