Through 20 days of the 2020 MLB season, the Braves are one of just three teams to have played 20 games. That’s a challenging stretch in the middle of a regular 162-game season with a healthy rotation, but it’s especially brutal when it starts the season after a short Spring Training with a rotation that consists of one reliable piece. However, the Braves find themselves two games over .500, just one game behind the Marlins (who have only played 12 games) for first place.
Before the season even began – with a healthy roster – the first stretch of 20 games looked just like the gauntlet. The Braves schedule began with eleven games against a more than respectable Mets squad and a fantastic Rays team. They then had to face the emerging Blue Jays, followed by the Phillies and Yankees for their first off-day of the season. With everyone healthy and a shortened offseason, I would accept 10-10. Now, taking into account all the injuries, seven or eight victories might sound more realistic. But this team just knows how to win, and they are continuing to find new ways to do it this season.
Without a starting rotation to Max Fried, the Braves bullpen could have saved the day more often. The expensive boys of late innings, such as Mark Melancon, Chris Martin, and Shane Greene, were worth their contracts, but it is the arms that were not even expected on the roster of the premier league in March that make all the difference.
Josh Tomlin gave up his first two runs yesterday, but he has so far been a chameleon for Brian Snitker out of the pen. The 35-year-old appeared in almost half of the Braves games (8) and in every possible situation. It could be the second inning as the eighth inning of a tight game, and Snitker would throw Tomlin in there without eggs. So far, it has paid off for the Braves.
Tyler Matzek was used in a similar way to Tomlin earlier this season and was just as successful, appearing in seven games (ten innings) and having a 1.80 ERA with 12 strikeouts. The former pick of the first round is well on his way to restoring his career in Atlanta after five years out of the major, and it’s not inconceivable that the Braves are trying to expand him as a starter, given all their problems in the rotation.
AJ Minter is another surprise out of the bullpen early this year. The hard throwing lefty went closer to AAA in the 2019 Premier League, but he has returned this season with confidence. Minter gave up only one deserved run in 7.2 innings (1.17 ERA) and has ten strikeouts. Adding these three guys to an already stellar staff at the back end of the bullpen has made coverage for the starting rotation possible.
The bullpen has not been the only thing that has kept the Braves across the fleet. Their lineup also deserves a lot of praise for that. They currently have an average of 5.2 runs per game (4th in the MLB), and some people thought this offense would not even be in the top ten if they were completely healthy.
The record for one season in the major leagues is 1,595 strikeouts by the 2019 Tigers, who went 47-114.
The Braves have a majors-high 203 strikeouts in 20 games, but rank seventh in OPS (.753) and fourth in scoring at 5.2 runs per game.
– David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) August 13, 2020
Atlanta crime has not been 100% all year. Ozzie Albies started the season playing due to a wrist injury and was put on the 10-day IL last week. Now his best buddy might join him. Ronald Acuña has missed the previous two games with wrist inflammation and is at least out for the next three before being re-evaluated. This is especially disappointing because Acuña finally got his go after wrestling with the fastball the first week of the season.
Freddie Freeman has not been with him most of the year either. Save for a few sample shows; he saves barely .200 this season, forcing others to step up. And they have – in the form of Dansby Swanson, Marcell Ozuna, Travis d’Arnaud, and Tyler Flowers.
Swanson was the team’s MVP for the first two weeks of the season, helping the Braves to a hot start. He’s fallen a bit last week, but he had three hits in yesterday’s game. Hopefully that’s a sign of things to come, because the Braves need his offense without Acuña or Albies in the lineup.
Marcell Ozuna has been exactly what the doctor ordered so far, repairing four homers and 11 RBIs with an OPS of .861. It would be almost impossible to replace Josh Donaldson’s production without re-signing him, but in a 60-game campaign, Ozuna might be able to draw similar figures.
However, Travis d’Arnaud is the best attacking free agent to have signed up so far. Because he missed a long start to the season with coronavirus symptoms and split reps with Tyler Flowers, he only played in ten games, but he already has two homers with 11 RBIs and an average .350 batting.
Speaking of Tyler Flowers, the man is officially off to a scorching start. Even though it has only been six games, he has a .375 batting average with an OPS of 1,233. His OBP so far this season is a riding .545.
This Braves offense is about 50% of his potential, and they’re still looking for ways to come up with timely hits and scoring runes. It may not be sustainable over this entire 60-game season, but it will be needed over the next week or so. Without Acuña and Albies, and with the state of starting rotation, unexpected players will have to pick up the slack, or there is no way the Braves will stay above .500.
All things considered, this has been a scandalous start for the Braves. They got a brutal hand, but they did their best. Brian Snitker and Co. have to keep inventing things, but it’s possible for the Braves to claim their third straight division title, and maybe go even further if they can get healthy.
