Atlanta Braves: AJ Minter Put on a Show in Game 5 of NLCS

The Atlanta Braves had to turn to the bullpen for Game 5 of the NLCS and it was a roller coaster ride.

The Atlanta Braves would lose Game 5 of the NLCS 7-3 but it was an entertaining journey. Hopefully, it will serve as a fun road bump on our path to the 2020 World Series. The Braves chose to start reliever AJ Minter on Friday night and follow him up with more relief pitchers.

This was a smart move by manager Brian Snitker, as it set the Braves up to end the series with their two most reliable starters this year, Max Fried and Ian Anderson.

Here’s a look at the most enjoyable parts of the game last night.

AJ Minter Outduels Dustin May

Heading into Friday night’s Game 5 of the 2020 NLCS, it was safe to say Braves’ fans had some anxiety about who would handle the pitching duties for the night.

The team announced that AJ Minter would be the starter in a reliver day. He would likely serve as one inning of electricity followed by some inning eaters. There was something unexpected and exciting about learning of the news that the resurgent reliver would begin the game.

Minter was at his finest last night. He didn’t just go one inning, he completed three shut down innings for the Braves. He had fans on their feet. Chipper Jones even chimed in on Twitter to lobby for more Minter after the second inning!

He struck out seven of the nine batters he retired. His fastball was dancing on the corners and changing speeds. His off-speed stuff was unhittable with Dodgers having to gear up to hit a 96 mph fastball – that he had proven repeatedly throughout the night – would have a portion of its existence over the plate.

Minter set an inspiring tone and his performance will be remembered fondly in Braves’ history. He had me believing that last night would be the night the Braves made their first World Series reservations since 1999.

Meanwhile…The Dodgers dynamic rookie Dustin May got the nod for Los Angeles in a do-or-die scenario. He was having trouble commanding the wild movement on his two-seam fastball and the Braves were able to be selective.

The first inning was not a good omen for the red-headed righty. After a Freddie Freeman double and an Ozuna walk, Travis d’Arnaud blasted one to deep right-center. It wasn’t far enough to leave the park but it did allow Freeman to score the first run of the game.

The Braves only walked away with one, but it was one of those innings where you could tell a pitcher was going to be in trouble. The prospects were looking good for the Braves.

Minter came back out for the second inning and needed just ten pitches to sit down Will Smith, Cody Bellinger, and AJ Pollock in order.

Cristian Pache Making an Impact

May returned for his shift in the second inning to walk the first batter he faced in Dansby Swanson. After striking out Austin Riley, he gave up a line-drive single to Nick Markakis that sent the speedy Swanson to third.

Cristian Pache now had a shot to do some damage in a crucial spot. After two pitches he found himself in an 0-2 hole. On the next pitch, the prospect displayed a level of professionalism that is not consistently seen in today’s game.

May threw him an 86 mph curveball low and away off the plate. So many players take the pitch and complain to the ump when it’s called a strike, or still take the borderline pitch looking for the walk. Pache protected the plate and put the bat on the ball. He stayed balanced and maintained his plate coverage. He put a nice swing on it and drove it right back up the middle for an RBI.

MORE MINTER

Minter took the mound for the third inning and the excitement built. The announcers speculated that it may be for just one batter since left-handed hitter, Joc Pederson was due up first.

Minter dispatched of him in five pitches, ending on a called third strike in which it appeared that just the seam of the ball sliced through the zone. Perfect.

Much to everyone’s surprise, Minter stayed in and served Chris Taylor and the great Mookie Betts the same fate as Pederson.

Three men up in the third and all three down on called strikes. They couldn’t even get the bat off of their shoulders, they were enamored by the beauty and grace of Minter’s fastball.

If you didn’t watch the game, go watch the full highlights and you’ll see him dotting the corners all over the film. Here’s a sample of what the first three innings looked like for the Dodgers.

Will Smith vs. Will Smith

The air of electricity Minter brought with him turned into accidental self-electrocution when Tyler Matzetk gave up a home run to the first batter he faced, Corey Seager.

Matzek, Shane Greene, Will Smith, and Jacob Webb followed Minter’s outing up by allowing seven earned runs in four innings of work.

The Dodgers are a great offensive team and they did some damage to some stellar relievers last night.

Will Smith vs. Will Smith

The real turning point in the game was the Will Smith vs. Will Smith matchup. It was the first time two players with the same name had faced off in the postseason. The Braves were up 2-1 with Dodgers on first and second.

There was some frivolity involved in seeing the two men who share the name of one of the biggest movie stars of all time face off in the NLCS.

The gravity of the situation crushed our skulls like a falling box of bricks when the Dodgers’ young catcher took a 3-2 inside fastball deep to put the Dodgers up 4-2 in the sixth inning.

After that swing, the Dodgers’ Will Smith walked away like this:

While Braves fans everywhere felt like this:

Max Fried and Walker Buehler will square off today. The Braves maintain a 3-2 series lead.