Today's Three Things: Braves Offense Runs Out of Gas in Series-Clinching Loss to Cubs
The Atlanta Braves put up seven hits, including three for extra bases, but just struggled to bring those runners home
The Atlanta Braves could never get that elusive final run, dropping game three 3-2 and losing their series against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night in Truist Park.
Here’s Today’s Three Things from the contest.
The Turning Point
The bottom of the 5th inning.
Chicago had just scored their third run of the game to make it 3-1, but the Braves had a chance to storm back. Marcell Ozuna hit his second double of the game, advancing to third on a one-out Jurkckson Profar single. Good place to be with the heart of the order up, right?
About that. Olson lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing in The Big Bear, but Ronald Acuña Jr. couldn’t do anything with an 0-2 sweeper but weekly ground it to shortstop, ending the inning.
The Braves would have just one baserunner the rest of the night, and he was doubled off as soon as he reached.
Today’s Player of the Game
Atlanta’s elder statesman has shown that he’s fully healthy and likely going to be the Opening Day starter in 2026. Against a tough Cubs team that made some very good in-game adjustments, Sale struck out nine across his five innings, walking just one. While the three runs was more than you’d ideally want, Sale’s stuff looked as good as ever against a quality Cubs lineup, picking up 13 whiffs and a 33% CSW.
What You’ll Be Talking About
Atlanta’s bullpen, the good and the bad.
The quartet of Piece Johnson, Tyler Kinley, Dylan Lee, and Raisel Iglesias didn’t allow any runs to score across their four innings, striking out four.
On the flipside, each reliever allowed at least one baserunner, with four hits and two walks among them.
With the exception of last offseason, the Braves have shown that they’re not afraid to pay for quality relievers (more on this tomorrow morning). They have a decent core to work with, which we saw tonight, but they also need to open the checkbook once again for another backend piece, as the three remaining pieces are each a little bit less stable than desired and the closer’s a free agent.
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 loss.
What’s Next for the Braves?
The Braves are off on Thursday before kicking off a home series against the Houston Astros in Truist Park. While the Astros has yet to announce their starters, the Braves will send Hurston Waldrep (4-0, 1.33), Bryce Elder (7-9, 5.35), and Joey Wentz (5-6, 5.61) to the mound.
I couldn't agree more with your call to "open the check book" for one or two high-end relievers. In this day and age when starters rarely go more than six or seven innings, the bull pen is the difference in so many games. But I'm still worried that the AA-McGuirk tandem still is committed to keeping the bottom line low and hope for a miracle from some DFA'd reject.