Whit Merrifield and Matt Olson Lead Atlanta Braves Offense to Big Win

it was the breakout we've been looking for on offense as the Atlanta Braves win 10 to6 on Monday night and more specifically Matt Olsen who seems to be heating up at the plate another big home run in this one four hard hit balls with marfield with a five hit game Max freed comes out after a long rain delay to help save the bullpen a lot of good things happening in Monday night's game we're also going to take a look at some historic pitching starting pitching for the Atlanta Braves and could this group be part of that 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 lockon Braves part of lockon sports Atlanta where we cover your favorite Atlanta sports teams each and every day today I'm your host Jake masterani you can follow me on social media at shortstop ball check out the podcast there at locked onore Brave subscribe on YouTube if you're new hit that thumbs up button so others can find us at lockdown Braves and leave me a comment in the comment section down below especially if you're an everyday or let me know or if you make us your first listen of the day and I appreciate you for all the support that you give me there if you're listening on the audio version you can help out by leaving a fivestar review on Apple Spotify wherever you get your podcast today we're going to be talking about Monday's Big T 10 to6 win over the Minnesota Twins the breakout offensively after just a dreadful performance on Sunday wouldn't you know it they go to Minnesota against one of the hottest pitchers in baseball and the offense Goes Bananas it's the 2024 season who can figure it out Max Freed's great performance coming back after a rain delay we're also going to look at the pitching staffs particularly starting pitcher pitching and just how historically great it's been for the Atlanta Braves could we be getting in another stretch of that with some new faces again we'll discuss all that on today's podcast however now through September 22nd all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a three- week free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV visit f.com lockon to get started well if you stayed up late to watch this episode with me thank you so much I see injured Thrills Jericho Zach Mania Taylor Parker Doug uh in here scoot Tish Sher Reed so many of you joining here with me late tonight Jeffrey humph Adam brener thank you all Patrick Roser thanks for being here Patrick McCarthy as well let's get into it because this is a big win for the Atlanta Braves a 10 to six win to start out this road trip very important road trip we talked about it on Monday's podcast in terms of the division this is the biggest week of the year you got three on the road against a good twins team before going to Philadelphia for four games and I said yesterday you have have to go into that series with the Phillies at least five games back and you have to come out of that less than five games back Phillies unfortunately won a game against the Astros and Extra Innings on Monday night so that really stinks because you had a chance to get that back down to five but either way know for the Braves it's just about winning games winning series the rest of the way the Mets were idle so you do pick up a half game there and you stretch that lead out to three which feels a lot better than two and a half so certainly want to see that as well try to create some separation as the Mets are going through a little bit of a hard schedule at the moment although they continue to play well but let's talk about this win on Monday night because the Braves offense broke out in a big way four runs in the first inning five runs in the second inning one run later in the sixth inning you I'm not trying to be picky it was a 10-run effort You' have liked to seen a little bit more kind of throughout that the game got a little bit too close 10 to six you had to get rice glacius up in the ninth inning that's the negative let's not talk any more negative let's talk about the positive here and this was the offense and with Maryfield batting lead off going five for five at the plate we talked about this yesterday the Braves best hitters over the last really two weeks now have been Ramone laurano and Whit marfield Ramone laano goes over five in this one although he had two hard- hit balls but Whit Maryfield he's been excellent especially starting with that Phillies series he has been on quite a rooll and for me even when Michael Harris is healthy which he came into this game we can talk about that a little bit more even when Michael Harris and hor Solair are both healthy I think for the foreseeable future Whit marfield needs to be your leadoff guy I would love to see them put Michael Harris back in the five six spot in the lineup just just let him get going let him relax get comfortable in the middle of that lineup it's just it's been a frustrating year for him the injuries you know the cold streaks that he's had just let him kind of ease in to the middle of that order don't I I know because of injuries you've had to thrust him up towards the top just out of necessity but if everybody's healthy right now I really wish they'd put Michael Harris back in the middle of that order and at least for the moment while Whit marfield seems locked at locked in at the moment let him bat lead off I mean it's a guy that had like 500 on base percentage over the last week again I don't know if that's going to continue I doubt that's going to continue but while he's hot just ride that and that's really what you have to do right now with this lineup with all the injuries that you have you kind of just have to ride the hot hand and he's done that some with laurano who's been hot lately he's bad at him at the top of the order and I feel like that just has to be the way that you manage this lineup the rest of the way you're playing good you look like you're having good at bats move them on up but for Whit marfield in particular a guy who look was an All-Star last year and a guy that's a veteran knows how to put the ball in play has good speed I would just ride with him at the top of the lineup even if Solair and Michael Harris are both healthy I'm putting Whit marfield at the top of my lineup right now for just his ability to get on base and that speed that he brings but a five hit night for him scored a couple of runs two hard hit balls but maybe even more important than that is the night from Matt Olsen three hitss on the night four hard hit balls seemed like everything he hit was absolutely squared up even the couple outs that he made big home run in the first inning to give the Braves a huge lead early big three-run home run important about that in Bat at bat it kind of similar to what happened on Sunday as well they threw two Cutters early in that at bat that Matt Olson you know just couldn't get to was a tick off foul those off and with two strikes they tried that cutter again got it that was this was a little bit higher and again kind of like Sunday I thought it was in a better spot but Matt Olsson ready for it that third time around that he got it and did not miss it absolutely crushed it same thing on Sunday where first two strikes against mat Matt Olsson and that bat were forcing fast balls that he was just a tick off found him back they tried it again threw it up a little bit and he was able to get to it and drive it out to center field so very interesting last two home runs for Matt Olsson those at bats got to two strikes with a certain pitch pitcher tried to go back to it for a third time and Matt Olsson was ready for it so hopefully that speaks to the fat fact that Matt Olsson is starting to be able to adjust a little bit more even just Dearing at bats not even at bat to bat but within an at bat that would be really huge but the you know he's looked really good lately in obviously in this game five runs bed end three hits I mentioned all the hard hits that he had so that is encouraging to to see that is what you know you need this Braves offense needs you need obviously Marcel Ozuna to continue what he's doing and he had two hits and two RBI on the night but Matt Olsen for me going forward without Austin Riley you know obviously without everybody else that you have you gotta have a Matt Olsson that heats up and starts hitting the ball out of the ballpark so now it's really three straight games he had a double off the top of the wall that I still don't know how it got didn't get out a home run on Sunday and a home run today so three straight games now where Matt Olson has had some really impact hits extra base hits got to have more of that from Matt Olsson down the stretch that this offense is going to get going and this Braves team is going to have success so those are two very encouraging things like I said with marfield at the top of the order I think he needs to stay there and then Matt olssen with a big Knight and again looks to be getting back on track so that is great to see and really it was those three guys that I mentioned I mean those are the only three that had multiple hits in this game even with 10 runs and 13 hits five of them came from Whit marfield three from Matt Olsson and two from Marcelo Zuna Jor Solair who was back in the lineup batting second he walked twice and that's the other thing too you put wit at the top of this order a guy that can get on base and you follow him up with Jorge Solair a guy who has the power and that on base ability suddenly you got two guys at the top of this lineup who can get on base one of them it gives you speed and then if you get Ozuna obviously he's been going all year and then you get Olsen going and you get those guys on for those two you could really see this offense start get going and then you back that up with Travis darno Shawn Murphy Michael Harris you put him down in the order and all of a sudden this lineup's looked looking a little bit more lengthy so that's why I kind of stick with that even when Michael Harris is back I stick with Whit marfield Jorge Soler Ozuna Olsen the catchers Michael Harris to kind of stretch the lineup out a little bit more I want to get into the pitching side of things here next Max freed obviously coming back after a long delay and pitching great game for the Atlanta Braves getting some of those innings in which the Braves absolutely needed we'll talk more about that here next you've heard us talk a lot about FanDuel America's number one sports book well we have something a little different for you now through September 22nd all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a three-week free trial of NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV then with a YouTube TV base plan you'll be able able to watch every regular season Sunday afternoon out of Market game all you need is a Google account and a current form of payment and you can cancel anytime just visit fanduel.com locked on to download America's number one Sportsbook and while you're there you're going to see daily parlays and and lines out there for Major League Baseball obviously college football coming up the NFL season as well just around the corner you'll see World Series favorites end of season awards favorites there for Major League Baseball you can see all that over at fanduel.com also make sure you visit fanduel.com playsafe for tools and resources to help you stay in control of the way you play FanDuel America's number one sports book thank you for making lockdown Braves your first listen of the day for your second listen enjoy the locked on MLB podcast where Soley brings humor and Analysis from every team around the league as he gets you ready for the postseason check that out on YouTube or wherever you get your podcast part of the lockdown podcast Network your team every day getting back into Monday night's action talked a lot about the offense I wanted to briefly touch on the pitching because Max freed in this one you know the Braves give you a four spot in the top of the first he comes down in the bottom of the first allows a run back I did not love that but limits it to just that one run giving up a free 90 feet or just not checking the runner at second base led to that was trying not to be I was trying to be positive the rest of the way but that really kind of B bugs me because I feel like brce pitchers Give Up free 90 ft all the time but it led to a run and it kind of you know gave the twins a little bit of hope that they maybe could get back in this game Braves come back out score five more runs and the game's pretty much over at that point but then you have an hour and a half rain delay and usually starting pitchers don't come back after that but Max freed does come back fortunately the twins hitters were pretty aggressive after the rain delay and so it allowed Max free to keep his pitch count down he gets through five innings only gives up one earned run he gave up three total but one of those being or two of those being unearned on an error from Orlando Aria and he doesn't make that error I still think he only goes five innings but certainly things look a lot better in this one five innings just four hits no walks I mentioned three runs but only one of them earned and seven strikeouts so another great game for Max freed I thought the secondary stuff looked really good in this one the curveball he had four whiffs on six six swings the change up he had two whiffs on Five swings through that 10 times but I thought those two pitches in particular were really good on this night locating that fast ball a little bit better so it's just another step in the right direction for Max freed after that little bit of Hiccup after the All-Star break and just big of him to come back out after that rain delay get through the fifth inning not only to qualify for the win which I'm sure was not his main motivation his main motivation was just to save that Bullpen you're starting a long road trip like I said one of the biggest weeks of the year so I thought that was huge for maxf free to be able to come out and do that did not love that the bullpen kind of let the twins get their way somewhat back into this game but either way Max Reed coming back out there and giving you five innings in total was really big and then on defense Michael Harris enters into this game we talk about that more at the end but he comes in and makes some big catches in this game one in particular with Grant Holmes pitching and the bases loaded makes an incredible snow cone catch running towards the center field wall uh so he comes Ines some great catches some really good catches all over the infield tonight Hy Solair with a somewhat diving catch which again maybe why he left the game we didn't hear anything afterwards or not as as yet of me recording here Jared Kellick with some as well so Outfield defense was really good on the night but I wanted to talk about it today and of course I had already had this planned out before the Braves offense went bananas but I wanted to talk a lot about the Braves starting rotation and just how historically good the Braves starters have been because I feel like there's this notion at least in this stretch of the Brave success that it's all offense and you're struggling to find starting pitching and look this this era of Braves baseball it's not it's not the 2000s early 19 N or early 2000s late 19 90s there it's not that group but the pitching's still been really good and you look at this year's group in particular they're ranked ninth overall in baseball with a 3.8 7 ra but we know that doesn't really tell the full story that includes Darius Vines and his 4.66 ER Bryce selders 6.52 and 10 starts Ray Kerr a 939 alen winens a 1526 and hen waler with a 1671 now those guys all made a combin six starts but they weren't very good you look at the top five in this rotation Ronaldo Lopez at 202 sell at 262 Freed at 357 schwellenbach at 394 is expected Ras in the low threes and then Charlie Morton at 424 I mean that's a really good starting five for the Atlanta Braves if you just take the erra for those five guys it's a 3.23 staff erra it's obviously fantastic you can't do that uh but that is a fantastic erra for the Braves starting five so bear with me here we're going to go through a little bit of history and look at some of the better staffs in all the baseball if you're a history you're going to enjoy hearing some of these names there are some names in here I don't even remember so you can definitely get one up on me if you remember some of these names but last year the brav starters had a 4.36 ER that ranked 17th you know the struggles of the Braves starting rotation last year a lot of that having to do with injuries the year before that in 2022 they had a 3.72 staff ER that ranked ninth in baseball that was Max and Spencer both had an erra under 2.8 that was also the year that Kyle Wright was spectacular with 21 wins and a 3.19 ER so that rotation was really really good in 20202 unfortunately Max sick and Spencer hurt going into that postseason in 2021 wasn't bad either you had free with freed with a 304 Morton with a 334 and Ian Anderson with a 358 it's also crazy to think we just talked about Kyle Wright he had a 9.95 ER in 2021 before breaking out in 2022 another thing I want want you to keep in mind as we go through some of this history is how volatile starting pitching is and how one guy can completely fall off the map the next year how guys are constantly coming in and out of the rotation it it is not the 1990s the the Maddox glavin Smoltz thing that is not the norm you do not have three pitchers that can stick in a rotation for a 10year stretch just doesn't happen especially not in today's game you go to or that 2021 team they rank seventh baseball with the 384 ER now 2020 was crazy obviously we don't we don't put too much stock in 2020 numbers the Braves had a 5.51 erra for its starters in 2020 that was 28th in baseball that is the the worst staff ER this Braves team has had since 1991 which is as far back as I went uh they did have some good pitchers that year though Max freed was 7 and0 with a 225 ra Ian Anderson had a 1 195 ER and just six starts but pretty much everybody else in that rotation was awful in 2019 they were 12th with a 420 Soka led the way with a 2.68 ER and 29 starts had kikel Tyron freed and FY they were all between 37 and 45 Gosman made 16 starts that year had a 6.19 erra he was so bad and he was so dominant the year before that in 2018 where the Rays were fourth n at 3.5 that was led by FY at 2.85 and a ball Sanchez had a 2.90 erra that year they were great Gosman coming over in the trade had a 287 erra down the stretch you also had Nukem and ton who were solid That season as well and remember Brandon McCarthy he brought them down a little bit had a 492 ER and 15 starts that season now the 15 through 17 stretch was really bad all eras in the fours 16 and 17 it was high fours now going back to 2014 there's a good stretch here from really 2009 to 2014 where this pitching staff ranked in the top 10 every year in 2014 it was Alex Wood at 259 Julio Tyron Aaron herang at 357 Iran Santana at 395 and Mike Miner in 2013 the staff ranked six at 351 erra that was led by m Medlin ton Miner wood and Hudson they were seventh the year before that Ben Sheets had a big season that year Paul mom in 2011 CH jurgons led the way with a 296 ER Tommy Hansen Brandon Bey Derrick low had a 505 ER Derrick low was not great for the Atlanta Braves that was a tough tough stretch H for the rotation a little bit with Derrick low there but the rest of them looked really really good in 2010 Tim Hudson L away with 17- n with a 283 erra Brandon beachy again Brandon beachy had several really good years for the Braves Hansen in there as well Medlin this was the group oh over this stretch here you had from 2009 to 20 2014 you had Brandon beachy Tommy Hansen Tim Hudson Chris Medlin Julio tayron and Jer jurgons you had six guys they both all those guys kind of in and out over that stretch but just some really you know good pitchers not Sai Young winners although Tim Hudson you know was up there at times Chris medin had that great season but unfortunately had the injury but you had six guys who you know for a five six year stretch there kind of in and out of the rotation but just really solid guys and I'm kind of what I'm looking for with this Brave staff going forward I'm going to run through the rest of these here really quickly mainly just to give you some of these fun names that I found while going through here 2008 was a tough year they ranked 20th Jorge campio does anybody remember that guy I I had not a clue who this guy was he led the that rotation with a 4.34 erra That season that included Mike Hampton Tom glav glavin with with a 5.54 erra JoJo Reyes in there and Charlie Morton in that 2008 rotation with a 6.32 erra nobody's wanting that version of Charlie Morton back in 2007 they ranked 13th uh the year before that they were 17 so a little bit of a rough year in the late 2000s and then in 2005 they ranked third Jorge Sosa I no clue who Jor Sosa was uh but he led that bra rotation with a 2.6 2 ra I have no idea why I cannot remember Jorge Sosa I don't have the best memory in the world but you think I'd remember a guy that had a 2.62 erra in front of JN Smoltz who had a 306 that Year Mike Hampton a 35 and Tim Hudson a 3.52 so that was a really good rotation in 2005 the last year of that stretch of division wins in 2004 you had Jared Wright lead the way along with John Thompson I don't remember John Thompson Paul bird Russell Ortiz and Mike Hampton in 2003 it Ortiz as well Maddox his last year in Atlanta a 396 erra Maddox career is just crazy they had the special on him the other night on MLB Network if you didn't check that out go back and do so and then 2010 they were first in all the baseball with a 342 erra led by Maddox at 262 glavin 296 Milwood 325 and Damen Moss 35 here's here's a crazy stat for you if you're still hanging around here with me let me know because I'm about to give you a crazy stat the Braves were number one in starting pitching erra from 1991 to 2002 from 1991 to 2002 the Braves LED all of baseball in starting pitching erra that's absurd that is absurd now you're never going to see that again obviously three Hall of Famers doing a lot of the work 1992 was the craziest of those years they had a 2.95 staff erra during this stretch there's some Seasons where a team led baseball with an erra over five starter erra we're only talking about starter ER here but in 1992 they had a staff erra of 2.95 led by glavin at 276 Smoltz at 285 Avery at 320 Charlie Le ran at 339 and then they had guys like David NE Pete Smith and Mike Bel biky who had ER below 27 That season just an incredible year but I mean what a stretch for that brave starting rotation which is really what this team has been about and with all I say all of that to get back to 20124 and Beyond can the Braves repeat that with all the success they've had Drafting and developing starting pitching can they get in another run like that with guys coming up like a Spencer schwellenbach like an AJ Smith Scher young guys like J.R Richie and Owen Murphy all the guys they have coming up obviously some of the veterans that they brought in a Chris S Ronaldo Lopez can they bring back a Max freed I feel like there's a chance that the Braves could you know go on another run like this where they finish every season in the top 10 top five in starter erra I think there's a good group for them to be able to do that but hope you enjoyed that hope you're able to stick stick through that with me if you remember some of those names let me know again there's some in there I just I do not recall at all but I don't have the best memory in the world my wife will tell you that all right next we'll get into a little bit of news including what happened on Monday night where hor Solair leaves the game Michael Harris comes in we'll discuss that and a Tuesday's matchup where one of those guys I just mentioned Spencer schwellenbach possibly the future of this rotation he'll be on the mail Tuesday night as a Braves look to go ahead and wrap up a series win against the Minnesota Twins we'll discuss that next get supplies from the site that's made for the skilled Trad supplyhouse.com supplyhouse.com is the reliable way to order Plumbing HVAC and electrical products online they're easy to use website it's packed with helpful resources and the latest product info to help you get the job done right shoping complete inventory of over 200,000 parts from over 400 top brands and get your order delivered right to your door with fast shipping from coast to coast if you need help with an order get expert support and industry-leading service from the friendliest folks in the business and talk to a real person every time Pros in the skilled trades can get a Competitive Edge by joining supplyhouse.com fre trademaster program every trade Master gets access to a dedicated phone line free shipping and discounts on every order join the thousands of trade Pros already benefiting from their free membership at supplyhouse.com TM and Order Plumbing HVAC and electrical supplies from anywhere with just a few clicks at supplyhouse.com so if you missed it during the game on Monday hor Solair started this game Michael Harris did not turns out Michael Harris finished the game and hor Solair did not don't know if there's anything to that I have not seen anything postgame obviously it's a late night with a rain delay I don't expect too much to come out after the game horir did make somewhat of an awkward diving catch early in that one it was also a big lead so maybe they just decided to get Jorge Solair off his feet and rest that hamstring glad they did because Michael Harris like I said made a couple of really good catches in this one hopefully there's nothing there for hor Solair and he's back and again just a chance to rest him with that big lead but on the good news you know Michael Harris came into the game made several great catches as I've mentioned a couple of times now he also swung the bat so that should tell you I think that hand is okay and that he'll likely be in the lineup on Tuesday so that is great news like I said though when he comes back put him in the five six spot in the lineup and just let him relax in the middle of the order there take some of that pressure off from batting at the top and let's see if we can get Michael Harris going we talked about Matt Olsen maybe he's starting to turn things around ozuna's been there all year with Maryfield looking good at the Top If you can get Michael Harris going as well in the middle of this order really lengthens things and you get that Dynamic player you know in there who has the pop has the speed but again just good to see him back out there looks like he's going to be okay and be back in there soon if not tomorrow now speaking of tomorrow the pitching match up Spencer swellen boach versus Simeon Woods Richardson edra W Woods Richardson just a 23-year-old who's having not say a breakout year but he's starting to reach some of that potential after a couple of rough Seasons very small sample size in 2022 and 2023 a 3.69 erra this year just a 1.18 whip not a lot of strikeouts though 99 strikeouts to 112 in 112 and a third Innings pitched good fast ball slider combination but neither has a whiff rate over 25% so he's relying more on weak contact hopefully the Braves get more of that hard contact that we saw on Monday night so not the worst matchup in the world for a guy that doesn't get a lot of swing and Miss doesn't get a lot of strikeouts also not going to walk you either so he wants you to put the ball in play and hopefully the Braves can continue what they did on Monday night against Simeon Woods Richardson as for Spencer schellenbach he's gone at least five innings in every start except for one this year where he went four and two thirds Innings and that's also the only start this year that he's given up more than four runs one of the great things about Spencer schach and one of the great things about really good pitchers they always give you a chance to win and that's what Spencer schellenbach has done every time this year except for one and hopefully he does that again on Tuesday and he's now racking up the strikeouts as this is a kid doesn't have a lot of starting experience who is learning on the fly at the big league level and just seemingly getting better and better so I cannot wait to see Spencer schwellenbach back out there on Tuesday for a chance to get the Braves a series win a big Series win on the road against the Minnesota Twins again thank you for joining me here tonight we got Shadow ninja joining me here at the end Patrick McCarthy hanging in there cherith uh emit Griggs injured Thrills Jeffrey made it to the end thank you so much little Lee Mass boost I really appreciate you joining me here late tonight after the long rain delay Leland hurt see you in there as well and every dayer thank you so much for your support and I appreciate you all joining Simba the one true king I do love me some Simba as well good to see him at the Ballpark the other night and love above all in here as well thank you all for joining me late night on Monday to celebrate this big 10 to6 win for the Atlanta Braves but that would do it for this episode of a locked on Braves thanks for making this your first listen of the day now go make your second listen to lockon MLB podcast where soy get you ready for the Post season and make sure the Braves and the twins will be back at it again at 7:40 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday night catch every pitch of the Braves Hometown broadcast with SiriusXM on the sxm app search Braves again subscribe on YouTube if you're new hit that Thumbs Up Button if you haven't already so others can find us 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