The Atlanta Braves have hit a rough patch in their season, losing five consecutive games and falling behind in the NL Wild Card standings. After being five games back of the NL East-leading Phillies in early August, the Braves now find themselves trailing the Mets for the third and final Wild Card spot.
The recent three-game sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers at Truist Park was a major blow to the Braves‘ postseason hopes. The Brewers outscored Atlanta 34-12 in the series, with an impressive 52 hits against the Braves‘ pitching staff. The Braves struggled to contain the Brewers‘ offense, giving up a season-high six home runs and 20 hits in the final game of the series.
Braves manager Brian Snitker acknowledged the team’s poor performance, stating that they „weren’t very good“ against the Brewers. The loss to the Brewers marked the first time since June that the Braves were not in possession of a postseason spot.
Starting pitcher Charlie Morton had a particularly rough outing, lasting just 2 2/3 innings and allowing eight earned runs on nine hits, including four home runs. It was the second time in three starts that Morton failed to pitch past the third inning, raising concerns about his recent struggles on the mound.
Despite the disappointing series against the Brewers, the Braves remain hopeful that they can turn things around. With a challenging road trip ahead, the team will need to regroup and focus on improving their performance to stay in the playoff race.
Offensively, the Braves have struggled with strikeouts, recording 35 strikeouts in the Brewers series and 55 strikeouts during their losing streak. The team will need to work on making better contact at the plate and capitalizing on scoring opportunities to get back on track.
In the face of adversity, Braves third baseman Austin Riley remains optimistic, stating that the team will try to „flush“ the series against the Brewers and focus on the next game. With a resilient attitude and a determination to bounce back, the Braves will look to put their recent struggles behind them and push forward in their quest for a postseason berth.