As you are scoreboard watching, know that so is Brian Snitker this time of year.
The Braves manager typically doesn’t closely monitor the scores from other games. He is too concerned with his own team. But everybody is looking up at the out-of-town scoreboard as the season nears an end.
The division-leading Braves have contenders on their heels to watch.
“I don’t look early (in the season),” Snitker said before the Braves wrapped up a three-game series with the Nationals on Thursday. “I look a lot now. They are out there. They are right in front of us. I think everybody is (scoreboard watching).”
The Braves went into play Thursday with a 2.5-game lead over the Phillies and a 4.0-game lead over the Mets. With 24 games remaining in the regular season, over the final 26 days, the Braves remain ahead of the hunt for their fourth consecutive division title. After finishing the series with the Nationals, the homestand continues with the Marlins and Rockies. Then it’s out west for the final road trip – a 10-day trip at the Giants, Diamondbacks and Padres. The season ends with a six-game homestand against the just-behind Phillies and Mets.
There will be plenty to watch.
Smyly in the bullpen: Drew Smyly allowed his first run as a reliever this season in Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to the Nationals. He entered in the ninth inning, with the Braves trailing by a run, and allowed singles to Yadiel Hernandez and Carter Kieboom. He then induced a double-play ball from Keibert Ruiz. However, Luis Garcia followed with a ground-rule double to give the Nationals another insurance run.
“I thought he was going to have a really good inning, and then one pitch,” Snitker said. “He’s gotten loose quick, which is something different. He did out in Colorado and last night. I think so far he has done a good job with what we’ve asked him to do.”
In Smyly’s first appearance since being moved to the bullpen, he worked one inning without allowing a hit in a loss at the Rockies on Saturday.
Soler delivers: Jorge Soler reached base four times Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with a walk. Since joining the Braves at the trade deadline, he has hit .287 average (37-for-129), with nine home runs, and has a .376 on-base percentage and a .535 slugging percentage.
Going long: The Braves rank third in baseball with 206 home runs this season, after two solo shots Wednesday. They are second in the National League behind the Giants with 208. The Blue Jays lead MLB teams with 214. The Braves have scored 49.5% of their runs via the homer. Only the Giants have a higher percentage at 50.9%.
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