For Tuesday’s first game against the San Diego Padres, the Atlanta Braves were out of the running. Following their successful Monday doubleheader to open the postseason, the Atlanta Braves were forced to start youngster AJ Smith-Shawver in front of the national audience when Chris Sale was placed on the disabled list due to back spasms.
This was not going to end well. The Braves seemed as though they had just finished playing two games in the lingering summer heat before traveling across the nation to face the hottest club in baseball on the road the following day. There wasn’t much to recommend Smith-Shawver as a good option—he only made one MLB start this season and had a 4.86 ERA in 20 Triple-A outings. There were just no clear, competitive options in Atlanta.
Before Brian Snitker decided to end the inning, Smith-Shawver had reached four outs. The first game was lost 4-0 away from home as Atlanta’s offense was unable to bounce back from the three earned runs he gave up. For the next two days, it’s win or go home at hostile Petco Par
Diego Padres, the Atlanta Braves were out of the running. Following their successful Monday doubleheader to open the postseason, the Atlanta Braves were forced to start youngster AJ Smith-Shawver in front of the national audience when Chris Sale was placed on the disabled list due to back spasms.
This was not going to end well. The Braves seemed as though they had just finished playing two games in the lingering summer heat before traveling across the nation to face the hottest club in baseball on the road the following day. There wasn’t much to recommend Smith-Shawver as a good option—he only made one MLB start this season and had a 4.86 ERA in 20 Triple-A outings. There were just no clear, competitive options in Atlanta.
Before Brian Snitker decided to end the inning, Smith-Shawver had reached four outs. The first game was lost 4-0 away from home as Atlanta’s offense was unable to bounce back from the three earned runs he gave up. For the next two days, it’s win or go home at hostile Petco Park.
