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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: several NLDS notes and thoughts to ponder

By Alan Carpenter

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 08: Max Muncy #13 gets a high five from Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a solo home run in the fifth fifth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 08: Max Muncy #13 gets a high five from Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a solo home run in the fifth fifth inning of the game at Dodger Stadium on June 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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On this Wednesday before things get real again, there are a few notes worth mentioning, so that’s a good use of the Morning Chop.

Before the hint that Sean Newcomb could be in line to start one of the NLDS games, I was starting to wonder if the best option for the Atlanta Braves to use him might be to have him pitch live batting practice during the team’s workout session yesterday.

Just think about it:  left-handed… premium curve-ball guy.  There’s not a lot of ways to prepare for Clayton Kershaw, but seeing a bunch of Newcomb’s curves might not have been a bad plan.

Would rather see Camargo at Shortstop

I completely understand the whole ‘2 players out of position’ thing for why the Braves would want to keep Johan Camargo at third base and go with Charlie Culberson at shortstop.

However…

  • Camargo is clearly the better defender, and shortstop is the position at which you want the better defender.
  • Who’s more out of position?  Culberson has 160+ 3B innings this season; 150+ at SS.

If there’s a compromise option, then perhaps consider Ozzie Albies at short.  That was his position until the Braves decided that Dansby Swanson would get it (but then Culberson only saw 67 innings there this season… with 2 errors – same as his shortstop miscues).

Any way you slice it, the Braves are definitely going to miss having Swanson on the field.

Reviewing the Past

I intended to do full look-backs on every game the Braves and Dodgers played this season, but I’m running out of time, so here’s a quickie on their first three contests of 2018 – the ones that took place in Los Angeles (June 8-10).

  • Game 1 – Dodgers win 7-3
  • Game 2 – Braves win 5-3
  • Game 3 – Dodgers win 7-2

GAME 1.

RHP Walker Buehler (likely Game 3 starter this week) gave up 2 hits in 5.1 innings with 4K, 0BB, and 1 run allowed.  Brandon McCarthy was on the bump for the Braves, so that’s not relevant for this week.

Nonetheless, Grandal hit 2 homers, Joc Pederson got one, Max Muncy another, and Cody Bellinger finished off the barrage:  5 homers out of a total of 8 hits… in something not usually considered a hitters’ park.

The Braves had some success chipping away at the bullpen… before Jansen finished things off… but I think you can glean from the Wild Card game that runs are definitely at a premium in playoff situations, so anything helps… and any that are given away hurts.

GAME 2.

Anibal Sanchez beat them this day:  5.1 innings with 2 runs allowed against 2 walks, 5K and just 3 hits – one of those a homer to Muncy (who really went off in this series).

Is it noteworthy that Angel Hernandez was behind the plate on this day?  Maybe.

The opportunistic Braves did parlay a Logan Forsythe error into 2 unearned runs out of the 4 allowed by starter Alex Wood… who isn’t slated to start in this series (so far).

The Braves did pound out 14 hits – and struck out 10 times.  The aforementioned Charlie Culberson went 3 for 4 – and the middle of the lineup all had at least 2 hits apiece.

GAME 3.

Ross Stripling vs. Sean Newcomb.  So if you’re thinking about using Newcomb for ‘confidence’ reasons after he nearly no-no’d these guys at the end of July, then you should also recall that there was this outing, too.

Newcomb got into the 6th inning, but allowed 3 in the 3rd en route to a 5 run day.  He walked 2 while striking out 6, but the Dodgers got 7 hits (so 9 base runners).  Forsythe and Muncy both homered in the contest off of Newcomb; Enrique Hernandez hit one off of Luiz Gohara.

In short, the Dodgers were pounding the ball well in this series.  The Braves did take advantage of a weak day by Alex Wood, but didn’t get much going otherwise.

More from Tomahawk Take

About Clayton Kershaw

If there was ever a time to ambush an ace, this  is the time.

Kershaw pitched last on the 29th (last Saturday), so he’s on (at least) regular rest, but he definitely hasn’t been himself lately:

  • Last 7 starts going back:  5, 4, 2, 4, 2, 2, 3 runs allowed.
  • 6 times in a row not going past the 7th inning

Teams have been scoring without the benefit of a lot of hits, so Atlanta will have to have the ‘manufacturing’ mindset going, but Kershaw may be a bit vulnerable.

As noted in days prior, it’s important to get runs – and a lead – early on, as this bullpen is not going to give up much:  5th best 2nd half bullpen ERA in the majors.

Pitching Change coming?. dark. Next

One more day to go!

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