Locked On Braves POSTCAST: Chris Sale propels Atlanta Braves to three-game sweep of Minnesota Twins

you are a locked on Braves postcast part of locked on Sports Atlanta your team every day hello and welcome to the Braves postcast part of the lockdown podcast Network your team every day Grant MCCA alongside Jake mastriani after another victory for the Atlanta Braves are on quite the rooll and finished off a sweep of the Minnesota Twins in the first stop on their road trip an important road trip and one that you knew the mission was come home with a winning record in each of these series and maybe you've got yourself a chance to do some pretty special things both in the division and of course in the postseason race well the Braves took that mission to the next level with the sweep behind Chris S they finish it off with a 5-1 Victory on Wednesday we're going to talk all about that and we'll of course be looking ahead as the Braves roll into Citizens Bank Park for a four game Showdown with the Philadelphia Phillies but a lot to get to on this show before we get started hit that Thumbs Up Button subscribe to lockon sports Atlant here on YouTube and subscribe to locked on Braves wherever you get your podcast we appreciate you making us your first listen of the day as well today's episode's brought to you by game time and you download the game time app create that account use the code locked on MLB you get $20 off your first purchase terms apply download the game time app today what time is it game time well it was game time for the Braves yet again and what that's meant here lately Jake is that they're playing some pretty complete games all around you're getting good pitching for the most part I think we've seen a lot of that here over the last couple of weeks and we're starting to see signs from this offense which makes you think if that group gets it going with the kind of pitch in the Braves have been getting this could actually be a pretty dangerous Club a formidable Club let's call them that that's what we've been waiting on all year long and look it's too much for me to see this year to really get too excited about it but I mean it's a long stretch now this is no longer a weekl long stretch it's a it's a two- we stretch that we've seen the team this team playing like that now there have still been some issues with the offense even during that stretch but the one thing that you mentioned the pitching has just been outstanding throughout and that's obviously kept them in a lot of these games but in this series in particular the offense really able to put some runs on the board come up with some early and come up with some late as well and that's what you love to see yeah and Chris Sail has kind of been the story when it comes to Great pitching all year long he continues to just Dazzle for this Braves Club he finally picked up that long awaited 15th win of the Year lowering his erra a couple little points in the process he's down to 2.58 on the season just another excellent start from him six strikeouts allowing just one run to the twins across the six Innings of work to pick up that Victory and the offense was able to back him up but I think how many times Jake we talked about it this year when the Braves need Chris S to come in and deliver and help them win a baseball game whether that's to extend perhaps a winning streak or win a series or it's to stop a skid he has answered the call in every conceivable way this year yeah I mean he's a guy you want to come up in whatever the situation is kind of like you said I mean whether it's to end a losing streak whether it's to keep one going get momentum going get a series off on a great start to cap off a great series like he did in this one I mean he has just delivered on all accounts every time he's gone out there except for basically one start this year which happened to come against the Oakland Athletics of all teams he has delivered he has given this team exactly what they need to try and win a ball game and he's kept it you know really two ear or less and 14 straight starts now I mean that is that is good grant that will give your team a chance to win every time you go out there and like I said we just get a little bit from this offense I go a long way especially when Chris S is on the mound so you can't say enough about the work that he's done he did finally get that 15th win seems like you been sitting on 14 for a while I don't know how many how how much people looking into wins this year but you know every little bit counts especially as he looks for uh to try to get in that Sai Young race this this year yeah and I think he's the front runner right now for that sa young race he's in the pole position let's let's just at least look at it that way Chris S you mentioned the 14 cons starts lying two runs or less has a franchise record and Greg Maddox never did this I saw his name on the list in the broadcast he did it what two or three different times which is not altogether shocking because I grew up watching this team and Greg Maddox was a tour to force in a lot of different ways and he did it for a long time and he ended up in Cooperstown Chris S wi healthy is one of the best pitchers in baseball this is the kind of thing I think you expect from him as well Jake you look you go look at that resume of the kinds of things that he's capable of doing piling up strikeouts and throwing just excellent baseball and having a low erra those are things that Chris hail has done throughout the course of his career the last four or five years it was a challenge because he wasn't healthy but when he is healthy this is a guy who's shown he has still got plenty left in the tank and I think that's really what it was when this trade was made from the Red Sox it's you really didn't know what you had in Chris Sale yeah he threw 100 Innings last year ER over four but as I've pointed out several times now you look at the metrics and the underlying data and the stuff was still really really good it's just hasn't been healthy enough and he's obviously gotten older I think people just assumed that maybe his stuff had diminished but clearly that's that's not the case I mean it's is one of the best versions of Chris Sale that we've seen and there's been a lot of really good versions of Chris Sale throughout what's been a really good career but clearly he still knows how to pitch he has really good stuff the velocity is still there for him and that slider is just is nasty and I like that he can dial it up the velocities you can throw it you know in the high 70s we also throw see some harder ones every now and then uh in the low 80s so um upper 70s low 80s I think is what I meant to say there but to be able to kind of manipulate that slider too that has such good movement on it deception with the delivery that he has is really tough obviously on lefties it's I mean he's really he's really really good we just haven't seen it for so long I think people just forgot about it yeah but he's the complete package no doubt about it and in addition to that Dynamite slider we've also seen him he'll operate that fast ball anywhere between 944 95 every once in a while then all a sudden you'll see 96 97 98 I mean he can rear back and still use that when he needs to and I feel like he got in one of those situations in this game where things were kind of teetering and he just H had a nice Mound visit and all of a sudden it was just let's dial it up and throw it past him and that's something that Chris Sale is extremely good at among other things now the offensive side on this night for the Braves Jorge Solair got the scoring started he did so early with a home run good to see that the real offensive star in this game I know you're right here with me Luke Williams gets to start at third base Gio orella just getting a night off Luke made the most of it couple of doubles including a two-run double in the Braves four-run seventh and that of course was the rally that put them ahead for good in this game yeah everybody looking at the lineup today wondering what's why Gio orelle is not in there he's been playing really good at third base uh snip pushed the right buttons with this one putting Luke Williams in there coming up with a couple of doubles and look when he filled in with Riley after Riley got injured he came in and doubled in that game and he's played pretty good defense as well at third base so uh yeah I don't know I don't know what led them to that decision uh but certainly it was the right one as had a big game just good to see that and we've seen that a lot from Braves players you know last year or two guys that just didn't get to play a lot but they were ready when they came off the bench and they would come in and and have a big game here or there and it's just great to see that from Luke Williams and like I said other players that the Braves have had over the last couple of years that you know if everybody's healthy especially and that hasn't been the case this year players aren't going to play much and so it's hard to be prepared to to stay fresh when that's the case but we still continue to see brace players when they get an opportunity here there to step up and have some big moments and Bobby Cox was really big on this where he kind of called it his b bombers lineup where he was going to use that that B team and get these guys at bats because you don't want them sitting for seven eight nine 10 days without really getting a chance to swing and see some live pitching it's just helpful and when you're not talking about okay well are we giving Austin Riley a day off or can we just kind of mix Luke Williams in here and just give them an opportunity to get those bats to stay fresh to be up to speed with what they need him to do because goodness knows we've seen it all year long should he be called upon in a situation where somebody else gets hurt knock on wood you'd like to know that he's played sometime in the last calendar month and that has also been a problem for certain people on the Braves bench over the last couple of years be that as it may great to see Luke Williams with that two-head Game knocking in a couple of runs as well brav scored those four runs in the seventh and took the lead for good in this game we saw a run knocked in from Matt Olen in this one as well Ramon laurano driving home a run I mean it's just started to turn into some of these names doing things on multiple days in a row laurano is a guy it seems like we talk about all the time but it's good to start mentioning Matt Olsen in backto backto back days with this kind of thing because it's been a tough season for him he's looking to finish strong and driving in some runs as part of a key rally that's certainly something that feels like a thing that Matt Olsson is capable of doing and getting the extra base hits too now as well that's five straight games where he's had an extra base hit either double or a home run so that's exactly what you're needing from Matt Olsen what you're needing from your number four hitter look Marcel's been there all year we've talked about it you're you're down to you know really two big guys that you were counting on coming into the year that are left in the the top of that lineup in Marcel Ozuna and Matt olssen you need those guys to produce and you need you know some unexpected guys to step up like we've seen with laurano and with Luke Williams tonight but those two at the top Ozuna and Matt Olsen I think this Braves offense is going to go and it's going to have more games like this down the stretch it's it's going to be because of those two guys so to see Matt olssen getting going and not just getting the hits but getting the extra base hits and I look at that Strike Zone could get a little bit better forward to he got rung up tonight on a pitch that was at his head uh but putting you know other than that it's just it's been really good to see the had bats for him lately and again just to see that power to see those extra base hits that what made that's what made him so special last year and doesn't always have to be the Home Run although we'll certainly take it but just getting those balls in the Gap getting those doubles what he was doing really early in the season when he was getting all those doubles that's what you want to see for Matt Olsson see him driving in runs in those spots getting those extra base hits yeah you needed at this point he's kind of a guy that you've got to count on I think even more than maybe you were before and I mean look the expectations pretty big coming off the year that he had a season ago expectations were big for a lot of these guys but still a chance while you can't do anything about the games that have already happened and maybe the first half that wasn't so great a lot of big things can still happen down the stretch for this Braves club and it would be great I'm sure for Matt Olsson he'd love to be a part of that we got a lot more to get to on this edition of the Braves postcast we'll talk more about this series The start for Chris S that got him in the wi column that helped the Braves finish off this sweep and of course we'll be looking ahead to the series in Philadelphia which is coming up on the other side of this break on the Braves postcast passion drive and patience the formula for winning championships 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 superchargers roof racks exhaust kits LED headlights and more whether you're into speed power or style eBay Motors has you covered with over 122 Million Parts You'll Always Find exactly what you're looking for and with eBay guaranteed fit your part is guaranteed to fit your ride every time or your money back because with eBay Motors you are burning rubber and not cash with all the parts you need at the prices you want it's easy to make your car the MVP and bring home huge wins ebaymotors.com eligible items only exclusions apply eBay guaranteed fit is available only to customers in the US prize picks is America's number one daily fantasy sports app with over 5 million active members get in on the daily action with your friends and become part of the prize pick Community today you can now win up to 100 times your money on prize pick with as little as four correct picks and turn $10 into ,000 prize picks is available in more than 30 States across the country including California Texas and Georgia download the prize picks app today use the code locked on MLB for a first deposit match of up to one $100 that's code locked on MLB all lowercase on prize picks for a first deposit match of up to $100 pick more pick less it's that easy with prize picks Jake let's take a look at the line score and the box score for the Braves as they picked up this Victory and moved themselves to 13 games over 500 for the first time since the middle of May the P's now 73 and 6 five runs eight hits no errors for Atlanta five men left on Bay dropped to 72 and 61 just one run on seven hits they left Eight Men on base winning pitcher Chris S now 15 and three loser is David Festa who is now two and four on the Year and no save in a game that lasted two hours and 39 minutes as the Braves completed the sweep of the Minnesota Twins let's get back to Chris S who we talked about a little bit in the open there but when it comes to things that have gone right for the Braves it feels like a list that doesn't have quite as many things as we expected to have on it this year Chris S though his name has to be at or near the top of the list for the Braves you talked about the trade that brought him over from the Boston Red Sox and you know this was a calculated risk a Gambit if you will for Alex anopolis and his front office betting that there was more there for Chris Sale if he could remain healthy and the Braves doubled down on that as well extending him after bringing him over from the Red Sox but all he's done is deliveries now 15 and three on the year six Innings of one run ball six hits one walk and six strikeouts really good performance for Chris S and honestly just part for the course in what this big Lefty has been doing for the Braves all year long that's what we've come to expect from him honestly and it's just it's great to see I mean you go back to that trade I Lov Von griam I thought he could be a big part of this team I love the bat and thought he had a place on this team going forward and so it was a risk to go get a Chris Sail who hasn't been healthy in a long time was coming off for year like I said where the numbers didn't look great but the metrics still were there for Chris S and I think it was all just a matter of could he be healthy so to go take that risk you know for a really good player and a good Prospect in Von Grom that was probably your best trade chip that was risky and like you said they they doubled down on that and extended him and it's paid off huge uh again we say it every time I don't know where this team would be without Marcelo zun offensively I don't know where they'd be without Chris S on the pitching side of things and obviously you've gotten good performances from Lopez Fri swach and and others but I mean chessel's the leader for the NL sa young he has been that good he has been that dominant on the mound and as we said earlier 14 consecutive Starts Now of two ear or less he has given you a chance to win just about every time out there this season and that is invaluable for a starting pitcher to do that but on this night in particular you know we've seen this Twins lineup it can be kind of aggravating it wasn't the most dominant start from Chris S just six strikeouts we used to see in 8 n from him there was really only two innings he had to work the fourth inning and the sixth inning other than that it was one two three Innings but in those two innings they really got after him and made him throw a lot of pitches but you mentioned the velocity I just wanted to point it out real quickly because I mentioned the velocity on that slider it ranged from 75 to 83 miles per hour again to be able to kind of change that velocity with that movement and then the fast ball it ranged from 91 to 99 and average 95 so just that ability to be able to to take some off to put some on when you need to and just that deceptiveness because it really is just a two-pitch mix mostly I mean it throw a little bit of change ups and a sink here or there but to be able to just have those two pitches but throw them at different speeds and again from that arm slot just you know and be able to get it done it's really hard obviously to hit him yeah it definitely is I he's one of the toughest for a variety of reasons it's a big velocity it's the great pitches but yeah it's an unorthodox delivery as well on top of that it's kind of a little bit of everything that makes Chris SES so great you look at this Twins lineup I mean you mentioned it can be very pesky but it's one that's dealing with no Carlos kareah no Byron buckton Lewis had the night off in this game as well and this was a a lineup where you looked at it at least on paper where as we talk about many times the game is not played and you feel like Chris Sale on the mound against this group gives you a pretty good chance to win but that's kind of been what we've said about Chris Sale against just about any group all season long he delivered again tonight uh brace Bullpen coming out after him Luke Jackson how about a score list inting for him in the seventh it looked like it could be an interesting series of decisions again for the Braves I think it's a product though of the bullpen having to get used an awful lot here lately off days kind of at a premium I know that they have had some in the more recent past then at some uh stretches throughout the second half when it seemed like they couldn't buy an off day but you you're going to have situations where you're GNA have to use just about everybody and Luke Jackson you'd like to see him use his significant strikeout stuff to give the Braves a little bit of a contribution here and he was able to do it tonight a walk and two strikeouts for him in a scoreless inning nice play by Matt Olson in that frame as well Joe Jimenez struck out the side in the eighth rice glaus closed it out in the ninth inning and lowered his ER in the process to 1.33 on the year it's been a nice season for the Braves pitching staff overall and to kind of bring it all the way back to Chris Sale and again some scoreless work from the bullpen also helps out but you look at this Braves pitching staff and you think how are they leading or have been in the discussion for the lead among pitching staffs in all the major league and but definitely the national league and I think leading the national league in ER still and doing all this without Spencer Strider leading all the baseball in strikeouts and doing that without Spencer Strider is just a testament to what this group has done Chris S has been a huge part of that quite obviously yeah certainly has been I mean when you lose pcer Strider in the first you know couple of weeks of the Season you got some question marks in the rotation you don't know what you're going to get out of Ronaldo Lopez you don't know really at that point what you're going to get out of Chris sale and for this rotation to be where it's been is just truly remarkable overall and it's not just the starters you know it's the bullpen as well the bullpen has been really really good you got those three guys and Joe jimnez Pierce Johnson R glacius obviously AJ Minter there for a lot of the year before getting injured but other guys have stepped up as well Aaron bummer been mostly good I know some prce fans get a little frustrated with him but I think he's been good Dylan Lee has been excellent yeah when they haven't been playing with his options uh but you know to get back to your point on Luke Jackson and and Jesse Chavez the night before and we talked about this last night look there are times you're going to have to count on your seventh and eighth guys in the bullpen to get you some Innings to get some work especially when you're winning games like this you're going to have to trust those now where I think Brian Snicker went a little bit different tonight is when Luke Jackson came in you had Aaron bummer up and ready just in case in that situation if something happened and then you did go to Joe gimenez and then you did go to R Sola glacius even with a four run lead which I am okay with because you got a chance to win a game this time of year you go for it you don't know what tomorrow going to look like you don't know if you're going to need those guys or not you had a chance to win tonight and after what happened the night before I think Brian Snicker wasn't going to mess around this time and he was going to make sure to use those top guys to finish this one off yeah and I think that you kind of manage as you can and the bravs have been really big on saying like look we got to go out there and worry about today we'll figure out tomorrow and how to get there and clearly as you manage a bullpen that that's a bit of a moving Target at times and you are going to try to stay away from different guys but there are still some pretty good arms who did not have to pitch tonight who could be available for you in important innings in the Phillies series and we'll see what exactly it'll mean for relda glaus Joe gimenez and those guys when it comes time to come into a big situation in this Philly series maybe they won't be available in that first one but maybe they'll be available for the rest of it but either way it's there's a lot of different moving Parts they go into managing that Bullpen but you can't easier to do sorry Grant easier to do over 162 which we see snit do to to manage these guys but as he himself has said it it is go time if you need to use these guys to win a game you got to go and do it yeah no you definitely do and and I feel like at this point this is why you have tried to manage with the rest for the starting pitchers the rest of the staff and the way that you've done your Bullpen now it's just okay I'm G to try to find you day here and there but for the most part it's kind of all Hands-On deck and that's where the Braves have been and if they want to get into the postseason they're going to have to report to their post every single day until which time they have secured that spot and they've got a big opportunity ahead of him of course against the Philadelphia Phillies Braves offense was held down over the first six Innings at least by D Festa but that four-run inning that they opened up in the seventh gave him the lead Ramon laano two more hits drove in a run Matt Olsson his RBI and I don't want to get out of here without mentioning how about Marcel Ozuna with just the greasy fast speed scoring from first base on that double by Matt Olen that I think is just one of those times where you see it you know it's you know it's coming you know it's happening and you know that the bra's going to have a lot of fun after the fact and they definitely did in The Dugout Travis darno got a little bit of comeuppence from his night before where he was scoring from first and had a whole gaggle of teammates trying to Fan him off when he was done and I don't know why he did it you know raor lano's coming up next and is going to get a hit so just kind of wasted that there uh but yeah know that was fun to see you know Matt Olson again we talked about it earlier but just coming up with that big hit we had to see the wheels there and then foron La it was big in that spot because you bring in a lefty to face Olsen olssen gets the big hit off the Lefty and then it does set up a match up with Ramone laurano who's obviously a righty and you got the three batter minimum now so you feel pretty good about that so that just you know was was great for so many ways Matt Elon to get the Lefty Onley hit and then it set up Ramone laurano for his own hit Y A lot of good things happened in that inning and the Braves used it as part of a four-run frame for a 5-1 win and a sweep of the Minnesota Twins when we come back on the Braves postcast we got more to get to we'll wrap up this series against Minnesota and we'll be looking ahead to a four-game showdown for the National League East it's going to be the first place Philadelphia Phillies hosting the Atlanta Braves for the final time in the regular season we'll talk about it next on the Braves postcast get hydrated with electrolytes essential vitamins and clinically tested nutrients from the number one powdered hydration brand in America it's liquid IV blast off with the iconic summer flavor of popsicle firecracker a festive blend of citrus fueled lemon lime tart cherry and raspberry flavors no more thirsty Summers when you indulge in hydration with liquid IV get 20% off your 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account use the code locked on MLB for $20 off your first purchase terms apply that's the game time app create an account use the code locked on MLB all1 word for $20 off your first purchase download game time today what time is it game time let's talk a bit about a big series one we've had circled on our Calenders for a while Jake and one where we were kind of wondering uh by the way both of these teams were playing in the second half just how close was this race going to be and as it happens the Braves can't move into first place here even if everything goes right for them in this series but they could take a bite out of a lead that is now down to five games as the Phillies were pounded on Wednesday by the Houston Astros and after taking the first couple of games I believe of that series as well bres kind of needed Houston to help him out a bit as they were busy winning their games but the Phillies who have been about a 500 Club all of the second half and have had their own struggles here they're going to be welcoming in a Braves team that just took a series from them in Atlanta so there's an awful lot of intrigue as if you already didn't need it this time of year when the first and second place teams in any division within shouting distance of one another face off yeah it's a big Division and a series that we've all been pointing toward it's the last matchup we're going to see between these teams at least in the regular season uh so it's huge and for me I look at it this is the last real chance for the Braves to get themselves back in this division because you lose this series obviously you know you go into the month of September you know back several games and it just becomes that much harder you split it and you're right back where you were and it still doesn't feel great but you win this series and you're obviously within three games and you got a real chance in September so you sweep it obviously you feel really good uh so this is you know the chance for the Braves to you know do the work themselves to take on the Phillies themselves and really get back into it so it's a big series that the Phillies got you know their pitchers lined up Braves pretty much do as well which you feel pretty confident but without all the brave stared you love to have sell in there uh but either way you know just really good pitching matchups it's going to be a great series between two teams in Philadelphia the Phillies are 44 and 24 at home this year you know that crowd is going to going to be into it it's a great great crowd there and this is the Philly chance on their side to I think put things away you know they got to be looking at it from that standpoint as bad as they played in the second half they come in here and take care of business and win this series you feel like you've really you know taken a big step towards finishing off the division now there still a month left to go and things can happen in baseball but this is a series I think from the brave standpoint this is our our last real chance to get back into it from a Philly standpoint this is our chance here to put this thing away yeah I mean You' like to make a move if you can and take a bite out of this divisional lead that the Phillies have which is five games and with four to play here over the next four days the Braves are going to try to do just that we talked about it you just mentioned it I mean this kind of does feel like the last stand as far as the East is concerned while there will be the month of September to follow or the rest of the month anyway the best way to win is always head-to-head and the Braves have done pretty well against the Phillies head to-head this year they're six and three against them but the Philadelphia Phillies have um definitely played well at Citizens Bank Park as you mentioned and we do have some pretty great pitching matchups lined up for this one Braves are going to go with Charlie Morton in game one we'll talk more about him as he faces off with Christopher Sanchez the Lefty who the Braves saw at truis Park last week game two we'll see Ronaldo Lopez who was dominant against the Phillies in his return from the injured list he will match up with Rangers Suarez the Phillies Ace Lefty then it's Max freed against Zack Wheeler and it'll be Spencer swell and boach against Aaron Nola because what would a series be between the Braves and the Phillies if they didn't see Zach wheeler and arinola just about every time it feels that way anyway but either way you knew that they were going to bring out their best the Phillies were you know how tough they are you know how heated this rivalry has been at times when the stakes have been much higher than a series in late August so it should be pretty fascinating to see these two NL East Rivals go head-to-head here with what looks like four pretty good pitching matchups and with the Braves coming in off a sweep at least they can feel like they came into the series with some momentum now can they keep it going and win a consecutive Series yeah that would be great obviously and you had the momentum you did what you had to do what you needed to do against Minnesota because I said coming into this you really need to be within five games coming into that Philly series because you win it like I said you knock it down to three uh but even if you split it you know it is five it's it's not it's not impossible but obviously makes it that much harder and for the Braves too you know not to move away from this Phillies conversation the Mets are playing really good baseball they were down four to nothing tonight against the Diamondbacks and they've tied it up we'll see where goes but the Mets are still right there in it too so you got to win to try to fight them off as well uh but I just you know this series is going to be a lot of fun yes you know you're going to see the Phillies best starters but the brave starters have been really good the one thing I'll say as good as the starting pitching has been you haven't gotten six seven Innings consistently out of those guys you would love to see that kind of happen in this series that would help with some of the bullpen uh but again as we've said a lot this year really comes down to that offense can they come up with those big clutch hits that have eluded them for most of this season I think if they can do that and starting pitching continues what it's doing br's got a real chance to win their fourth series over the Phillies this year in six in a row as you said yeah big to get the six Innings from Chris Sail I think to close up Minnesota finish off the sweep I think Max freed would have had more of a chance to maybe do something a little bit more special if he didn't have to sit down for 90 minutes and wait between his first inning of work and the next four but it was I thought impressive that he went out there and was able to get that whole thing done be that as it may the Braves who have won these three games in a row eight of their last 10 head into Philadelphia where the Phillies have lost or or five and five in their last 10 and lost their finale against the Houston Astros Braves road record in case you're curious 37 and 32 you mentioned the Phillies 44 and 24 at home and the Braves as of right now have a three and a half Le game lead in the wild card over the Mets pending the outcome of the action on Wednesday that's for the third and final wild card spot there let's talk a little bit about Charlie Morton he's going to be on the mound in game one against the Philly 7- s 424 ER he faces Lefty Christopher Sanchez who gave up a ton of hits to the Braves but didn't necessarily I didn't feel like getting knocked around they weren't able to kind of get that knockout blow on him he's 9-9 351 has been a big part of the Phillies rotation this season Charlie's been pitching I feel like a lot better lately if he could keep that Trend going they would go a long way towards helping the Braves to take the opener of that series which would be as we've said many many many times already in this show and many others the momentum you're looking for yeah Charlie Morton obviously pitched better as of late but I think if you look at this rotation right now he's probably the one that concerns you the most just because we've seen even in some of these good starts where things can get away from him quickly and get away from him in a really bad way and against that Phillies lineup in that ballpark you cannot let that happen you cannot afford to have your command slip for an inning or two here or there but he's done a great job at least lately of kind of managing that working through it and being able to go deep in the games and give the Braves a chance to win so you would love to see that happen again can the Rays good five six innings in this one keep them in the ball game we love to see that get this series off it's a big one too it's the first game obviously before game series you kind of set the tone for what happens the rest of the way so you're looking for Charlie Morton to do that we'll see if Charlie's able to deliver again the veteran righty for the Braves 7- S A 424 ra against Christopher Sanchez the Lefty 9-9 with a 351 erra Thursday 640 PM Eastern Time first of four between the Braves and the Phillies five games separated him in the nle standings where will they be by the end of this series we'll be talking about it over the course of the rest of the week we appreciate you listening and riding along with us here on the Braves postcast make sure to subscribe to locked on Sports Atlanta on YouTube leave us those likes and comments share the show with a friend and subscribe to locked on Braves wherever you get your podcast once again the Braves behind Chris Sale complete the sweep of the Minnesota Twins next stop Philadelphia for Jake Master a I'm Grant McCauley we will catch you next time and until then so long everyone