Today’s Three Things: Atlanta Sleepwalks Through Close Loss in Series Finale

The Braves mustered only singles and had a sloppy defensive night in a close loss to the Cubs

The Atlanta Braves couldn’t figure out Cubs starter Ben Brown en route to a 2-0 shutout loss in the series finale on Thursday night in Truist Park.

Here is Today’s Three Things from the contest.

The Turning Point

Since there’s not one specific moment we can point to on offense, let’s talk about the defensive error that got Chicago on the board in the sixth inning.

Ian Happ drew a leadoff walk to open the frame. Chris Sale looked like he had gotten a ground ball to clean up the basepaths, with Seiya Suzuki sending a slow-roller to shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.

Not so fast. The normally sure-handed Kim briefly fumbled the transfer and, rushing to try and still complete the double play, backhand-flipped the ball over the head of the covering Ozzie Albies and into shallow right field.

Happ advanced to third on the error and then came in to score on a force out, putting the Cubs on the board. It could be argued that the lone run changed the complexion of the late game, as Atlanta’s bullpen decisions after Sale were to go with lower-leverage arms in Reynaldo López and Aaron Bummer. It’s not the sole reason Atlanta lost - the offense took care of that - but it sure didn’t help.

Today’s Player of the Game

Once again, it’s Chris Sale in a losing effort.

The veteran lefty went six full innings, allowing just the one unearned run on five hits, walking two and striking out eight. He picked up sixteen whiffs, eight on the slider alone, and finished with a 32% CSW. While he let Chicago put fifteen balls into play, only three of them were hard-hit and he also forced six groundball outs.

It’s the continuation of quiet domination for Sale, with the veteran now down to a 1.96 ERA. Across all qualified pitchers in the National League, Sale’s ERA is 5th, just above Paul Skenes (1.98) and only three spots behind teammate Bryce Elder (1.81).

Sale also prompted some laughs early when he forgot how many outs there were and briefly panicked about a runner being allowed to wander off of first base. He owned it, though, doing the team’s “sideways hat” acknowledgment after realizing he was the one who made the mistake.

What You’ll Be Talking About

Atlanta’s quiet offense tonight.

The Braves picked up just five hits, all singles, drawing one walk and striking out eleven times. Cubs starter Ben Brown, who is in only his second outing of being stretched out, threw just 65 pitches but still struck out seven. All nine of his whiffs came on the knuckle curve, with the Braves swinging fifteen times but never putting one into play (nine whiffs, six foul balls).

Frustratingly, the curve was rarely thrown in the zone, carrying a zone rate of just 27%, but Braves hitters expanded against it 63% of the time. Brown’s other pitches combined for fifteen swings and six batted balls, three of which were hard-hit, but the curve was always there for the converted reliever.

To add insult to injury, the Braves were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, being utterly unable to cash in their opportunities. Frustratingly, the Cubs were 0-for-7 themselves, but got the solo homer and the defensive error to bail them out.

Looking for more discussion about this game?

Here’s tonight’s Postcast, with me and Locked On Braves host Jake Mastroianni, as we went live to break down the contest.

What’s Next for the Braves?

Atlanta’s taking on Boston for three in Truist Park this weekend, with MLB trying to sell this as a common-sense pairing for Rivalry Weekend because the two teams used to share a city. If anything, we’re more baseball cousins than rivals.

Here are the pitching matchups:

Friday (7:15): Spencer Strider (1-0, 2.89) vs LHP Connelly Early (3-2, 3.16)
Saturday (7:15): Bryce Elder (4-1, 1.81) vs LHP Payton Tolle (1-2, 2.78)
Sunday (1:15): Grant Holmes (2-1, 4.35) vs TBA