Reynaldo López Returns in Style Whit Merrifield Has Big Game in Win Over Phillies

Ronaldo Lopez returns to the rotation and has a huge game against the Philadelphia Phillies with 10 strikeouts with Maryfield get some revenge against his old team and Marcel auna as always comes through with a big hit we'll discuss that and also the Braves issues with hitting with runners in scoring position this year we'll discuss all that on today's episode of lock on Braves so let's get into it you are locked on Braves your daily Atlanta Braves podcast part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day hey and welcome back to lockdown Braves part of lockdown Sports Atlanta where we cover your favorite Atlanta sports teams each and every day I'm your host Jake masterani you can follow me on social media at shortstop of all check out the podcast there at locked onore Braves make sure that you subscribe on YouTube if you're new hit that Thumbs Up Button if you already have so that others can us here at locked on Braves and leave me a comment in the comment section down below let me know if you're an everyday or here at locked on Braves if you're listening on the audio version you can do me a favor by leaving me a festar review on Apple Spotify or wherever you get your podcast as it does help out the show a ton whenever you do that and again thank you for all your support here at lockdown Braves making us your first listen of each and every day on today's episode we'll recap the Raves three to one win over the Phillies a great game I just I had fun watching the Atlanta Braves I know it's obviously more fun when they win the game but I just thought it was a a wellplayed game all around we'll break down everything Lopez is Big outing the pitching staff in General Grant Holmes what he was able to do and his new role with this Braves pitching staff also Marcel Ozuna with Maryfield had a big game we'll discuss that we'll also get into the Braves issues and clutch situations this year that's been a huge problem for them so we'll take a look at the stats there and then get you set up for Wednesday's game where Max Freed's looking to have a bounce back outing this episode of lockon Braes is brought to you by priz piix the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports go to priz pi.com lockon MLB and use code all lowercase locked on MLB for a first deposit match up to $100 well the Braves kicked off a three- game set with the Phillies on Tuesday night entering this game seven games back in the NL least and I told you coming in you pretty much have to sweep this Series and win the four game series in Philadelphia and while I'm not betting that's going to happen one thing I don't bet but either way I would not bet that even if it were a bet over on FanDuel but if you're going to do it h the best way and the only way to do it is to win game one of the series and the Braves got that done with a three to one Victory on Tuesday night and it was all because of the pitching staff obviously not all you got to score some runs but a big deal big chunk of that is due to just some great pitching Ronaldo Lopez returning from injury went five innings in gave up five hits one walk just one earn run and 10 strikeouts just an unbelievable start for ronal Lopez coming back from injury I thought he was excellent in this one I thought really all of his pitches looked really really good especially for his first start back he had that tuneup in guette where you wasn't the greatest stat line but that's why you can't always look at stat lines at the minor league level and draw much from that he threw 71 pitches in this one gets up to 90 he threw 90 pitches in this one 60 of those for stri stes he threw 90 pitches the Phillies swung at 47 of them and they whiffed on 18 of those 47 swings that's a 38% whiff rate I mean he just had them in all kinds of trouble including Kyle schwarber and Bryce Harper who he struck out both of those guys three times each so just an amazing game for Ronaldo Lopez coming back and look he was at 79 pitches after four Innings after a long fourth inning where he did give up a run and the Phillies were able to tie things back up I thought he might be done after that inning considering you know he hasn't pitched in a while the top of the lineup was coming back up again he was in the upper 70s and pitches and hadn't really been stretched back out that far yet but credit to Brian Snicker who stuck with him and look maybe you thought that was an easy decision you had Grant Holmes up so I think it was least in in Brian Brian Snicker's mind but you know you send him back out there for that next inning the coaching staff I guess I should say uh you send it back out there for that next inning and maybe it's batter by batter and you have Holmes ready to go but he just dominated the top of the Phillies lineup tonight whether it was shorer and Harper as we talked about but Trey Turner as well we know how much he kills the Braves so be able to keep him off the Bas base pass was a really great job by Lopez in this pitching staff so very encouraging stuff for Lopez who's had an outstanding year overall so to see him come back and pitch that way and his stuff just looked really crisp look he only threw three change UPS in this he got two whiffs on three change ups that he to through total curveball he had a ton of whiffs on that he obviously always has a lot of whiffs on that slider fastball velocity you know he was able to get up to 98 especially in those last Innings when he needed it and knew he was near the end of his rope so I mean this looked like the Ronaldo Lopez we saw earlier in the year so that is very encouraging for the rest of the ways he looked healthy his stuff looked good so that's very encouraging for this Braves team now the rest of the pitching staff did an amazing job as well Grant Holmes he does come into the game after Lopez exits after a great fifth inning Holmes comes in and was really good for two scoreless innings as well and this is huge for the trust that you have in Grant Holmes look you lose AJ Mentor in this Bullpen for the rest of the year he was put on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday but Grant Holmes suddenly becomes a big piece of this Bullpen look I don't know what the future holds for Grant Holmes I think there could potentially be something there for him as a starter and maybe they look more into that in the offseason and into the beginning of next year but for the rest of this season he becomes a big piece of this Bullpen we talked about it on the postcast me and Grant mcau over in lockdown Sports Atlanta and in your lockdown Braes podcast feed if you haven't given that a listen but suddenly you have two guys in Grant Holmes and Dylan Lee who come in in kind of that pivotal spot in the sixth seventh inning to bridge that Gap guys who can give you multiple Innings guys who you you trust now I mean I think we trust Grant Holmes at this point and I apologize I was not familiar with your game Grant Holmes but you have you have earned this opportunity you have looked really really good and now you have another arm in this Bullpen that I think you can trust it's a spot where I think you've been going to Jesse Chavez a lot and while I hate to say it I think the magic the magic dust or whatever was running out on Jesse Chavez but now you insert a guy in Grant Holmes who can bridge that Gap you know if Lopez can only get you five innings if schwellenbach you know they need to ca at five innings Grant hes Dyan Le suddenly become important guys to bridge things to the back end of the game that you trust that can get it there get it there with a lead or either keep your team in the game until you get to those backend guys and Pierce Johnson Joe Jimenez and Rell glacius who those last two you know they were great on this night as well so this pitching staff look this is this is the formula for the Braves this is not going to be the Juggernaut offense that it was last year if the Braves are going to do anything in 2024 it's going to be because of dominant pitching and that's exactly what we saw on Tuesday night now on the offensive side of things look you're facing Zack Wheeler who's the second best pitcher in the National League this year behind Chris S he is really really good you already have a beat up lineup you're coming off the loss of Austin Riley so you gotta imagine emotions are a little down at the moment and you have to lower your expectations in a start like this of what you might get from the offense but to get two runs off of him to get him out of their after six Innings and drive up his pitch count to 97 that feels like a successful night to me from this Braves offense especially with that lineup Jorge Solair is still not back so I thought it was a successful night overall against wheeler even though it's not the best line in the world against him you get him for a couple of runs you knock him out after six Innings and you take a chance on that Phillies Bullpen that has not been as great here lately and then you also face you know a couple of their better relievers in kirking and Alvarado I know they haven't been great as of late in Alvarado couldn't find the strike zone tonight but those are two guys with good stuff you know it wasn't necessarily a bunch of hits that they were getting off Alvarado he just couldn't throw strikes now the other part of the offense in this one wh marfield had his revenge game against his former team in the Phillies he had a triple on just a great swing against Zack Wheeler he gets ahead three 0 wheeler gets it back 3-2 he dots a fast ball away and wit stays back on it and just drives it the other way down the line for a triple gets a good carum off that that wall and gets a triple Michael Harris able to bring him in for the Braves to take an early lead that was a great at bat got a double and later got a walk in the game as well so just an outstanding game from Whit marfield who's been fantastic for this Braves team since taking over for Aussie Alby so really love what we've seen from him I would have liked to seen after Michael Harris drove him in there to maybe try to steal a base and see if you can get another run across there I want to see them use some of that speed a little bit more you had Ramon laurano got on earlier in the game try to steal in that first inning had it stolen unfortunately was called back because of batter interference that big back swing from Marcel Ozuna hits JT real Muto but I think you got to be more aggressive especially in these games against good pitching you got to be more aggressive on the base pass when you get a Michael Harris and a Wht Maryfield and rone laurano on base look for more opportunities to run and try to make things happen there so again tough night for the offense but you're facing some really good pitching so overall I thought it was a successful night with this lineup key moments in this game talk about Lopez he had trouble in the second and fourth innings in this one interestingly enough it was against the middle and bottom of the order of the Phillies lineup at the top of the order he completely dominated but he had the load Bases Loaded in the second was able to get out of that had first and second nobody out in the fourth after an 02 pitch that Alec B hits into play and just bounces you know in front of the plate into the air there's just no chance to make a play there and he limits that to just one run outside of that you know not a lot of traffic against against this br's pitching staff on the night for the offense you had chances to add on in that eighth inning in that ninth inning you were able to push one across because Alvarado walked three but again love to see in those spots coming up with that big hit to kind of put the game away they had those chances there late didn't quite get that big hit but were at least able to get that insurance run which felt huge obviously with ril gla's coming in he's been so good but he's had some troubles against the Phillies but it's more so been against the guys at the top of that order and and you know got to mention Ramone laurano making some great catches in the bottom of the ninth inning to help Rell glacius get that save know he's had his issues out there and look even those catches he made in the ninth kind of wor worried me a little bit those line drives you saw ctios struggle with one of those line drives in that right field in Atlanta we've seen other players struggle with that H but a basket catch too so a couple of of great running catches so good stuff from Ramone laurano who's had his issues in the Braves Outfield defensively but those were certainly some good catches for him and continues to stay hot at the plate had another hit in this one so just a great game overall look I'm a defensive first type of fan so I certainly love these low-scoring three to one games and again I think that's what you're going to get from this Braves team going forward you're hopefully going to get great pitching your offense is going to get some timely hitting get a big home run from Marcel Ozuna I don't know that I mentioned that but just a good you know Marcel continues to get it done in clutch spots come up big after looking bad in his first two at bats he comes back with a big home run to give the Braves a lead in this one so so much good stuff coming out of this one the Braves able to get a close win against the Phillies on a night that the Mets lose as well so you gained some ground there in the wild card so you know rough couple of days for the Atlanta Braves with the Austin Riley news but a great win for this Braves team on Tuesday night next we'll turn our attention to some negative I had this plan before the Braves got a big win but we're going to look at the Braves in clutch situations this year and just how this offense has struggled or have they struggled as much as Maybe you thought we'll discuss that here next passion drive and patience what brings home the winning trophy is also what keeps your ride or die alive eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to Peak Performance from superchargers roof racks exhaust kits LED headlights and more whether you're into speed power or style eBay Motors has got you covered with over 122 million parts for your number one ride or die you'll always find exactly what you're looking for and with eBay guaranteed fit your part is guaranteed to pit your ride every time or your money back because with eBay Motors you're burning rubber and not cash with all the parts you need at the prizes you want it's easy to turn your car into the MVP and bring home that win just like the Braves did on Tuesday night keep your ride or die live at ebaymotors.com eligible items only exclusions apply eBay guaranteed fit only available to us customers thank you for making lockdown Braves your first listen of each and every day for your second listen enjoy the lock on MLB podcast where host Paul Sullivan AKA suy is here daily to provide National expertise with his trademark humor and get you setup for the postseason you can check out on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast part of the lockdown podcast Network your team every day as far as what's coming your way the rest of the week here at lockon Braves tomorrow we will have a podcast looking at obviously the rest of this Phillies series letting you know what's going on around the league and looking at the postseason pitch where again the Braves have a two and a half game lead now on that final wild card spot and then we'll have our mailbag episode later in the week as well so get your questions ready for that but I wanted to talk about the brav struggle in clutch struggles in clutch situations this year because it just feels like they have been the worst in baseball in clutch situations feels like they get a runner in scoring position they just can't get that big hit you know even tonight it was a great win you had chances to get some big hits with the runners and scoring late in this game to really pad this pad the score and put the game away and you just weren't able to come up with that big hit and you look at Fang graphs and their definition of high leverage situations the Braves are 25th with a WRC plus of 80 now to put that in perspective the Phillies are actually behind the Braves in clutch situations again as defined by fan graphs with a WRC plus of 79 so you know you can have that and still have a really good team it's you know not advisable H but you know I don't think that's the best indication of necessarily the Braves success or failure offensively this year now one thing you will I will point to is that the Braves have a 24.1% strikeout rate in those spots that's 20th in baseball I actually thought that would be worse but again you look at it from Fang graph's High leverage situation standpoint they're 25th in all of baseball in WRC plus and they're 20th in strikeout rate in those situations so not great certainly bottom 10 and clutch situations again as defined by fan graphs now you look it more simplistically runners in scoring position the Rayes are 21st in WRC Plus at 99 so again bottom 10 I I actually thought that would be worse to be quite honest with you it feels like that's been worse now again we got to stop comparing this team to 2023 but I just think to give you some perspective of how far this offense has fallen a lot of it due to aggression a lot of it due to most of it maybe due to some major injuries but last year this Braves team was seventh with a 116 WRC plus with Runners and scoring position so that's a big drop off and again here is the big one for me they're 29th in strikeout rate with runners in scoring position at 25.6% last year they were fifth in strikeout percentage with Runners and scoring position at 19.3% again let me repeat that one for you because I think this is the biggest thing and I think that's what most fans see and realize when watching a game is just the number of strikeouts in big situations whether it's a runner on third but less than two outs or just a runner in scoring position is what we're looking at now the bravs are 29th that's next to last there's 30 teams in Major League Baseball 29th in strikeout percentage at 25.6% so nearly 27% of the time with a runner in scoring position they are striking out and look sometimes the strike out is better than putting the ball in play we've seen the Braves hit into the most double plays by a wide margin over the last month but you got to run her in scoring position I feel like he got to find a way to put the bat on the ball and try to make something happen and there's just been far too many strikeouts and again just the jump from last year 19.3% strikeout rate with Runners and scoring position last year all the way up to 25.6% and as I pointed out a couple of weeks ago when we looked at you know the strikeout numbers for this Braves team a lot of that's due to Jared Kellick and Adam Duval who have had to play a lot this year and they both have a strikeout rate near 30% some of that's due to regression from Matt olssen who's seen his strikeout rate go from 24 to 28% but a lot of that is due to just some of the guys they've had in this lineup that they didn't have there last year and some of it's regression aunia before he got injured you know his strikeout rate was back up around 22 23% but I think a lot of it is just due to some guys they really weren't expecting to have to use this year or to count on a lot maybe that's not necessarily the casee for Kellick they were hoping you know it was a guy that they could count on a lot now he's just been forced to play no matter what but still that is a big jump and I think one of the biggest reasons why this team has struggled with Runners and scoring position because when you strike out you know 27% of the time in those situations you're just not going to have as many opportunities for things to go your way they've also had the this was astounding when I when I saw this they have the fourth fewest appearances with runners in scoring position that to me is maybe even more concerning the fact that this team just hasn't had a lot of opportunities with runners in scoring position you're not getting a lot of base runners to second and third base and I I could not believe that when I had to look at it a couple times and looked at it on a couple different sites they have the fourth fourth fewest plate appearances with runners in scoring position they had the 13th most last year the fact that they are n and run scored with runners in scoring position this year is actually pretty impressive considering the number of chances and like I would not have thought that I would assume that part of that is due to the fact that they have hit a lot of home runs I know it was a slow start but they really caught on in the second half they have the ninth most run scored with runners in scoring position but again the fourth fewest plate appearances so imagine if they got that back up to you know top 15 in plate appearances Runners and score position where they again have already scored the ninth most runs and we're probably looking at a different offense here they're 18th in average with runners in scoring position at 251 again that's that's higher than I would have guessed they're 24th and on base percentage at 315 they just don't walk a lot last year they were 10th in average with runners in scoring position at 266 and Ninth in on base percentage at 349 so that on base percentage number way down again I think part of that the fact that they just don't have a lot of guys that that will take their walks they have this is the maddening thing about all this and I know some of you don't want to hear about exit velocity hard hit contact I've I've read your comments they have the hardest contact rate with runners in scoring position this year at 35.4% they also were first last year with runners in scoring position with a hard hit rate of 37.1% again we talked about this the other day and I apologize I forget the name of the account on social media who ran all the have basically just proved with data how unlucky the Braves have been with hard hits this year but again from one year to the next they have the hardest hit rate with runners in scoring position but just the the outcomes haven't been the same necessarily and I think a lot of that again is due to the fact that one you just haven't had as many opportunities and two you're striking out 27% of the time in those in those situations so again still hitting the ball extremely hard when they do it and when they have those chances they just need more of those chances and they need to stop striking out so much when they get those opportunities you also look at it in two strike counts this year it just feels like again it's all points back to the strikeouts but last year it just felt like in two strike situations they really turned things up and did a much better job of putting the ball in play and you look at it this year two- strike counts they're 22nd in strikeout percentage at 43.8% last last year it was 38.6% so that's a pretty heavy increase obviously anytime you get in two strike situations your chances of striking out go up exponentially but 38.6% 43.8% that's a pretty big jump last year or this year rather they are 20th in average at 168 in two strike counts and 20th in WRC plus last year they had the second best average in two strike counts at 195 so again last year again I you can't keep comparing last of this year but it's just it's all I can do right now I it just felt like it without even looking at the numbers that they got to two strikes last year and whe I don't know if it's approach or not but they certainly seem to do a much better job in two- strike counts last year of putting the ball in play and it showed with their 195 average which was the second best in baseball no that doesn't sound great but your average really goes down in two strike counts and this year that's dropped down all the way to 168 again we've talked about it all season long just hasn't felt like there's been a great two- strike approach for this team like we saw in 2023 and that's regardless of the injuries I think that's been up and down the lineup the approach in those situations just hasn't felt great so again has been a rough year in clutch situations these numbers actually aren't quite as bad as I thought watching every game it feels like they never come up in a clutch situation but I think they have been one of the you know 10 worst teams this year in runner with runners in scoring position in clutch situations I think a lot of that is due to the fact that they don't get on base a lot so you don't have as many chances they don't take their walks and you're just striking out way too much when you do get in those situations so hopefully that's something that improves down the stretch here in this last month and a half for this Braves team but it is something you definitely can look at this year that has really hurt these this Braves team when they've gotten those opportunities and just not being able to put the ball in play not being able to come up with that big hit to either you know take a lead or get back in the game or just put a game away they just haven't done a great job of doing that all year long but again as we're all been hoping that's hopefully going to change here down the stretch and hopefully Max Reed is going to get back on track it's been a rough stretch for him after the All-Star break now he gets to face this Phillies team who's looking to come out hungry after only scoring one run on Tuesday night we'll discuss Max breed and Wednesday's game here next prize pick is America's number one daily fantasy sports app with over 5 million active members prize pick is the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy 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preview Wednesday's matchup but you got a good bit of news on Tuesday we've discussed already Gio shella we talked about him a lot on yesterday's podcast and then I did a a brief little short discussing it once became official that the Braves signed him they did sign him to a major league deal the tigers are on the hook for the remainder of his 2024 salary which wasn't much to begin with the Rays will only P pay a pro-rated portion of the league minimum for however long he's with the team that according to Justin Tuscana of the AJC to make room for Gio ell the Braves transferred AJ mentor to the 60-day iil he is officially done for the season again hate that for AJ Mentor they also placed Austin Riley on the 10day I not officially done for the year but again most likely done for at least the regular season now Joel Sherman who also reported the goo or shella news he reported that the Braves are going to play Julie guel at third base sum at Gwynette in case he is needed there we talked about jully guriel as a possible replacement yesterday but he hasn't played a lot of Third Base he is 40 years old but he's hit really well at guette this year so going to go ahead and work him in there just in case the bravs want to give him an opportunity there things maybe don't work out with Gio or shella and he did play there on Tuesday night for gwet I believe he was over three with a walk and a couple of strikeouts but gives you some more options there for the Braves if they do want to go that route or like I said if things just go disast for disastrously for Gio or shella but certainly hoping that's not the case now for Jorge Sol was not in the lineup on Tuesday like we all were hoping he did pinch hit in the game drew a walk and then was pinch ran for by Adam Deval look I don't want to keep Bea beating a dead horse here but this is just Why this this move didn't make a lot of sense at the trade deadline I love the bat the bat is certainly a fit for what the Braves need a guy that can get on base has some big power but is a DH I mean he hasn't played a lot of Outfield lately and now you put him out there he pulls a hamstring and look it's great he can come back and and maybe get some ADV bats right now but now when you bring them back you have to make sure that he can play the field because there are no at bats for him in the DH spot you're not taking Marcelo Zuna who's been your best hitter all year out of that DH spot so now Solair is dealing with a hamstring maybe he's well enough to hit but he's not well enough to play in the field and that's the only spot for him so you really back yourself into a corner with this Jorge Solair move and look it can happen with any outfielder getting injured but you know Sol in particular who's not a great outfielder to begin with hasn't played a lot of Outfield over the last couple of years really should be a DH only and now you you've got this guy who you owe a lot of money to he's got an hamstring injury you can only play him in the Outfield but you really do need his Bat and the Braves really could use his Bat I don't know when he's going to come back again it's a good sign that he was at least able to hit in this game but again it just it speaks to the fact that that trade just wasn't a great fit for what the Braves already had again the bat was and if he stays healthy fine but now you you're dealing with a leg issue for a guy who probably should only be playing DH but a guy that you have to play in the Outfield but again good to see him at least back out there on the field and until he's able to or at least back out there at the plate and until he's able to get back in the field should be a good solid bat for You Off the Bench but certainly that's not what the Braves are wanting with hor air they want him at the top of that order each and every night as far as the match up on Wednesday it's Aaron Nola versus max freed Nola in his last seven games a 335 ER but a 1.51 whip and only 35 strikeouts in 40 in a third Innings just four strikeouts in five of his last six outings three walks and three of those six and 43 hits and 33 and four third and 34 in a third Innings I don't know how he's gotten away with it over this stretch but hopefully the Braves are able to get those base runners on and take advantage with some clutch hitting Aeron is a guy you have to get to him early otherwise he kind of gets into a rhythm obviously Braves are very familiar with him he's very familiar with the Braves but a guy that they can get to and they have gotten to in the past and hopefully that's going to be the case on Wednesday as for Max free need to get him back on track look it has not been great since his injury at the All-Star Game I thought he was better last time I thought he's been better each time out but got to get him back to being that Max free that's not walking everybody 11 walks and his last 13 and two3 innings over his last three games that is not typical Max freed and it really just is about command the stuff looks good the stuff looks sharp velocity is fine it's really all just about him getting that command back and if he does that then we're going to get you know the regular Max freed back the Sai Young contender in Max freed and again we're looking for that on Wednesday really know say four start back now from that injury really want to see him get on track with that command have a good game against the Phillies hopefully go deep into the game you did have to use you your Bullpen a good bit on Tuesday to get that win but just more importantly for the rest of this season and who knows what happens with Max freed after the season but for the rest of this season you really want to see Max freed be that top of the rotation guy that we know he is and has been for most of the season and really want to see that happen on Wednesday against the Phillies that will do with this episode of lockdown Braves thanks so much for making lockdown Braves your first listen today go check out the lockdown MLB podcast with soy will he get you ready for the postseason you can find that on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast part of lockdown podcast Network your team every day again later this week we'll discuss the rest of this Philly series and get into what's going on around the league and the playoff picture and have our mailback episode the Braves and the Phillies play again at 7:20 pm. Eastern on Wednesday night it'll be Max freed versus Aaron Nola catch every pitch of the Braves Hometown broadcast with SiriusXM on the sxm app just search Braves and that will do it for this episode again of lockdown Braves thanks for making us your first listen of each and every day subscribe to us on YouTube if you are new hit that Thumbs Up Button if you haven't already so others can find us follow us on social media at shortstop ball lockon Braves and make sure that you rate review And subscribe to the lockdown Braves podcast wherever you get your podcast and we will talk to you next time