In a season overflowing with off-the-chart offensive numbers, the Atlanta Braves have shown they can pitch too. Atlanta’s pitchers have tossed four shutouts in the past seven games. The team has won six of those seven to ensure an MLB-best record of 78-42.
As of Aug. 17, 2023, the Braves have MLB’s most home runs (232), best team batting average (.274), scored the most runs (702), are first in on-base percentage (.345), and lead in slugging percentage (.501).
Regarding pitching, their 3.82 team ERA is sixth in MLB and second in the NL, just one percentage point behind the San Diego Padres.
Starting-pitching concerns weighed on the Braves after the All-Star break, when they split their first 24 games. Atlanta’s starters combined to allow just eight runs over 42 2/3 innings within this span.
The Braves’ 13 shutouts are tied for the MLB lead with Cleveland for the most. Four shutouts were hurled this past week as the Braves first visited the New York Mets and then hosted the New York Yankees Season.
Four Shutouts in a Week
The Results
On Aug. 11, a 7-0 win over the Mets, Charlie Morton went five innings and was followed by Pierce Johnson, Brad Hand, Kirby Yates, and A.J. Minter.
The next day, the nightcap of a day/night doubleheader, resulted in a 6-0 win led by Spencer Strider’s seven innings and six strikeouts. Minter and Raisel Iglesias followed.
The earlier game that day was a 21-3 rout of the Mets in which an eighth-inning Daniel Vogelbach home run averted another shutout. Allan Winans got the win, and Michael Tonkin yielded the home run. Also of note, utility man infielder Nicky Lopez pitched a scoreless ninth. Lopez had quite a day at the plate, too, going 4-for-6 with 5 RBI and a home run.
The Braves fell to the Mets the next day, 7-6, as a six-run fifth inning put Yonny Chirinos on the hook for the loss.
The Yankees then came to Atlanta for a three-game set. In the preseason, these dates were likely circled as possible post-season previews.
However, the Yankees have slipped to last and are below .500 in the AL East. This high-priced team includes perennial sluggers such as Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, D.J. LeMahieu, and rookie sensation Anthony Volpe. Disappointment would be an understatement.
The Braves’ Max Fried won in an 11-3 defeat in the first game.
And then Braves pitching stopped the Yankees lineup cold, recording two straight shutouts to complete a series sweep. This team includes the likes of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, D.J. LeMahieu, and Anthony Volpe.
In a 5-0 win, Bryce Elder went seven solid innings and only struck out three but held the Yankees to one hit. Minter and Yates followed in relief.
On Aug. 16, Morton gave up four hits in six innings and struck out 10 in a 2-0 Braves win. Johnson, Yates, and Iglesias followed him.
Glass Full of Optimism
A pessimist would bemoan the one bad inning in the only loss within this stretch.
An optimist would strike comparisons of the Braves’ current starters to the stellar rotation from the 1990s, which featured Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, and Steve Avery.
A realist would note that solid pitching will elevate this team further.
Main Photo Credits: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
