Today's Three Things: Atlanta drops game one to Philly after Kyle Schwarber hits four homers

Atlanta's now 1-1 this season in games where they let one hitter mash four homers

The Atlanta Braves were obliterated by the Philadelphia Phillies, losing game one 19-4 at Citizens Bank Park on Thursday night.

Here’s Today’s Three Things from the contest.

The Turning Point

Believe it or not, I’m going with the top of the first inning.

Atlanta had Aaron Nola reeling. Having returned recently from injury, Nola gave up three singles and two walks to get the Braves on the board with three runs. After getting the second out of the inning on a strikeout looking by Marcell Ozuna¹, Atlanta attempted to execute the “1st and 3rd” play by asking Michael Harris II to steal second base, giving Ozzie Albies a chance to score from third.

Philadelphia handled it perfectly, with second baseman Bryson Stott abandoning the potential 3rd out of the inning in Harris to charge the incoming throw and fire it right back to catcher J.T. Realmuto. The tag was deemed to be in time, despite some replays (and Philly’s broadcast booth) making it look like Albies was safe, but Atlanta declined to challenge the call and the top half of the inning was over.

Look, I know that Atlanta gave up a total of seven home runs and nineteen runs in this one, but being able to extend the first inning to more than three runs had the potential to keep the offense in it after Philly put up their five-spot in the bottom of the inning. It’s incredibly demoralizing to have that inning and then be down by two runs when you come back up to bat, but if it’s tied, maybe they’re able to have a little more offensive success. After that first inning, Atlanta recorded only three more hits and one walk the rest of the game.

Today’s Player of the Game

Kyle Schwarber, and yes, I know he plays for the other team.

Schwarber had four home runs and nine RBI tonight, making 2025 the first season in MLB history where a player hit four home runs in a game three separate times. And amazingly, Atlanta was involved in two of those, winning then-Arizona Diamondback Eugenio Suarez’s four-homer game in late April before losing this one.

In modern MLB history, there have been 19 four-homer games, and Atlanta is involved in five of those. Bob Horner hit four for Atlanta back in 1986 (a game in which the Braves lost), but they've let Gil Hodges (1950), Willie Mays (1961), and now Eugenio Suarez & Kyle Schwarber do it to them.

What You’ll Be Talking About

Cal Quantrill (hopefully) getting DFA’d.

Miami waived him in mid-August after he went 4-10 with a 5.50 ERA for them, striking out just 82 in his 109.2 innings.

Atlanta would take that production.

Since they claimed him off waivers on August 21st, he’s made two starts and is now 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA, having allowed twelve runs on fourteen hits in just eight innings. Tonight was a nightmare start for Quantrill, allowing nine runs on nine hits without a single strikeout and giving up four homers.

It’s not bad luck, either; he’s just not missing bats. In his 53 pitches tonight, Quantrill got Phillies hitters to swing 30 times and had just three whiffs, giving up eight hard-hit balls. With Chris Sale set to return on Saturday and manager Brian Snitker pointing out that off days every Thursday in September means extra rest for the starters, there’s no need for an extra starter and so Quantrill can safely be DFA’d either tonight or tomorrow.

Looking for more discussion about this game?

Here’s tonight’s Postcast, where I went live to break down the loss.

What’s Next for the Braves?

Game two is an Apple TV+ exclusive, set for 6:45 PM ET. Bryce Elder (5-9, 6.12) takes on Ranger Suárez (10-6, 3.07).

1. He’s now fourth in baseball in strikeouts looking, which is frustrating, as his entire job as a designated hitter is to, y’know, hit.