By MIKE ROBERTS
The Atlanta Braves had an absolutely awful week. Just kidding. It was exactly the opposite. The Braves had a perfect week, sweeping both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies. Obviously, taking all three games from the Dodgers, the two-time defending World Series champs, is more impressive than topping the cellar-dwelling Rockies.
Atlanta (82-55) remains in first place in the National League East, widening its lead to five games over the second-place Philadelphia Phillies. They’ve also won seven games in a row, one away from tying the season-best streak of eight straight victories.
Here’s a look at three of the biggest positives in a week full of them.
The Braves Have the Dodgers’ Number
As mentioned, the Dodgers have won the last two World Series and let’s face it, they’re favored to win it all again this year. Led by Shohei Ohtani, who’s a four-time MVP and one of the most talented players in the history of the game, Los Angeles is clearly a powerhouse. However, the Braves have just had the Dodgers’ number this year, winning five of six games head to head. That’s good news, especially if these two teams end up meeting in the playoffs, whether that happens in the divisional round or the NLCS.
Chris Sale Continues to Dominate
Is Chris Sale (13-9, 2.06 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) really 37 years old? He certainly doesn’t play like it, that’s for sure. The Braves ace was fantastic Thursday in a 1-0 victory against the Dodgers. He went the distance, didn’t issue a walk, struck out 11, and threw 80 of his 109 pitches for strikes.
It was the 17th complete game and fourth shutout in Sale’s career, and the first shutout since a three-hitter against the Kansas City Royals in June of 2019, back when he pitched for Boston. Sale notched his fourth double-digit strikeout game this year and the 95th of his career, which ranks seventh in MLB history. He threw a 100.1 mph fastball to Ohtani in the third inning, reaching triple digits on a pitch for the first time since July 2018, when he was a member of the Boston Red Sox. He also had an all-time response when asked about the triple-digit pitch.
Sale, of course, didn’t beat the Dodgers all by himself. He received support from Atlanta’s All-Star catcher Drake Baldwin (.277, .810 OPS, 22 HR, 67 RBI, 3 SB), who hit a leadoff home run against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. When was the last time the Braves won a game with their only run being a leadoff homer? You’ve got to go all the way back to 1889, back when they were the Boston Beaneaters, taking on the Indiana Hoosiers.
Sale, who earned his 10th All-Star selection this year, continues to have an unbelievable campaign. The Florida native won the 2024 NL Cy Young Award, and he’s making a late-season push to win it again this season.
Ronald Acuña Jr. Has Ended His Slump
Acuña (.241 AVG, .757 OPS, 13 HR, 36 RBI, 19 SB) had been scuffling since he returned from the injured list. Had, being the key word there. On Friday, he came alive with three hits and three runs in the series-opening 6-4 win over the Rockies. Acuña hit cleanup for the first time since August 2022 against the New York Yankees and the first time in a home game since May 2019 versus the San Diego Padres.
Acuña walked and scored in the second inning, singled and scored in the third and doubled during the fifth before scoring on a home run by Michael Harris II. He followed that up with a hit in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Colorado, then recorded two hits and an RBI in Sunday’s 3-2 victory to end the series.
Looking Ahead
Next up, the Braves will play a home game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, making up a game that was postponed from June 18, before hitting the road for a two-game series against the Washington Nationals starting Tuesday, and then a pivotal four-game series against the Phillies, starting on Friday.
Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule, including TV information and probable pitchers:
- Monday, 8/31: 6:05 PM, BravesVision/MLB.TV, Anthony Molina (SF) (1-0, 2.89 ERA, 0.96 WHIP) vs. Bryce Elder (ATL) (8-7, 3.95 ERA, 1.24 WHIP)
- Tuesday, 9/1: 6:45 PM, BravesVision/MLB.TV, AJ Smith-Shawver (ATL) (0-0, 5.93 ERA, 1.61 WHIP) vs. Jake Irvin (WAS) (2-8, 5.62 ERA, 1.40 WHIP)
- Wednesday, 9/2: 1:05 PM, BravesVision/MLB.TV, Grant Holmes (ATL) (9-5, 3.71 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) vs. TBD (WAS)
- Friday, 9/4: 6:40 PM, BravesVision/MLB.TV, TBD (ATL) vs. TBD (PHI)
- Saturday, 9/5: 6:05 PM, BravesVision/MLB.TV, TBD (ATL) vs. TBD (PHI)
- Sunday, 9/6: 1:10 PM, NBC/Peacock, TBD (ATL) vs. TBD (PHI)