Repetition in baseball is one of the most defining aspects of the sport.
Throwing pitches, swinging the bat and playing the infield are just a few aspects of the game that are predicated on successful repetition of actions. For the Braves, repetition is the reason they swept the Cardinals in St. Louis this week.
Today’s game, like the previous two games, featured top of the first inning scoring the Atlanta. Austin Riley drove in four of the Braves’ five first-inning runs this series, with at least one first inning RBI in each game.
The Braves’ defensive effort was crucial in todays game too. Matt Olson headlined Atlanta’s defense today with a brilliant, athletic double play in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Olson was also the engine of the Braves offensive production today, driving in three runs on via two RBI doubles and a solo homerun. Olson struggled yesterday with four strikeouts, but made up for his that today. The Atlanta first-baseman scraped his third homer of the year over the centerfield wall in the second inning.
Olson lead MLB in homeruns in spring training and has maintained pace since the regular season began.
Mikolas struggles, Elder shines in pitching matchup
The latest victim of the Braves offense was Cardinals opening day starter Miles Mikolas. The two-time all star surrendered all five of the runs scored by the Braves in six innings of work. Like Jake Woodford and Stephen Matz before him, he settled in after a few tumultuous innings.
Also like Woodford and Matz, he earned a loss against Atlanta in 2023. Too little, too late.
Today was likely the best the Cardinals felt about their starter this series. In 2022, Mikolas posted a 3.19 ERA in 33 starts for a Cardinals team that lacked reliable pitching.
Bryce Elder took the mound for Atlanta today in what would have been Max Fried’s second start of the season. Elder, who debuted last year, struggled in spring training and began the season in AAA.
The 23-year old right hander showed no signs of struggle today. He delivered six shutout innings against a top offense in the National League.
Yesterday, Elder told Bally Sports’ Kelly Crull that he had a “better feel” for his pitches in his lone AAA start of 2023, even though the results didn’t show it. Today’s performance backed up that claim.
Five of Elder’s six strikeouts were from his slider. He registered two K’s against Nolan Arenado, who is in the prime of a Hall of Fame career. Elder has likely earned a stay in the majors while Max Fried recovers from his hamstring injury, but may well pitch his way into a permanent stay in Atlanta.
Rookie Jordan Walker hits first career homerun, tries to spark late rally
The one aspect of this game that wasn’t repetitive was the fight the Cardinals showed in the ninth inning. Top prospect Jordan Walker, who hit his first MLB homerun today, drove in both Cardinals runs. He doubled in the bottom of the ninth inning to drive in outfielder Dylan Carlson and tried to pump up his Cardinals teammates, but centerfielder Tommy Edman popped out in foul territory to end the game. Still, it was the Cardinals’ best ninth inning all series.
Speaking of repetition, the Cardinals final out came via-foul pop outs to Braves infielders on back-to-back days. Yeesh.
Braves produce via ‘ABC baseball’
The most encouraging aspect of today’s contest for Atlanta goes against the theme of repetition: They were not dependent on the long ball to score.
Aside from Olson’s second inning homerun, the Braves scored by chaining base-hits together. Atlanta will need to continue this trend for days where homeruns are not in abundance, especially to avoid losing in the fashion that they did in the playoffs against Philadelphia in ’22.
Looking ahead
The Braves head home to take on the Padres in a four-game set that begins tomorrow.
San Diego spent beyond lavishly this past offseason after getting a taste of playoff success in their run to the NLCS in 2022. They beat the Mets in the wildcard round and exorcized demons by beating their rival Dodgers in the NLDS, who won 111 regular season games last season.
Headlining the Padres’ spending is shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who signed an 11-year deal with San Diego. The former Red Sox all star is hitting over .400 with three homeruns for his new club, justifying the $25 million per year salary he commands for the next decade.
This series should present more of a challenge for the Braves. The Padres are loaded with talent, particularly on offense. Their lineup features some of the most talented hitters in MLB, including Bogaerts, perennial all star Manny Machado, and former National (and Braves tormentor) Juan Soto. The key for Atlanta’s success in this series will be to either outslugging San Diego, or limiting the damage that these stars can do by keeping the bases clear when they are at the plate.
Spencer Strider will take the mound for Atlanta in game one against former Cy Young winner Blake Snell. Strider will look to build off of a strong first start of the season. Snell needs to improve from his first start of 2023, where he lasted only 4.1 innings in a 7-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
Things are good for the Braves right now. They sit atop the NL East at 5-1, and just watched the Mets get swept by the Brewers in a three game set in Milwaukee. The Phillies have faired even worse. They have a single victory this season in large part because their expensive offense has scored only three runs per game.
The Braves have already demonstrated that they belong in the discussion for the best team in MLB, but a series win against the Padres could turn the discussion to who is second behind Atlanta.
Weeduncs.com 
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