Today's Three Things: Braves drop one run game despite valiant comeback effort
The Braves drop their second straight series and have now lost five of their last six
The Chicago Cubs ruined the Major League debuts of Rolddy Muñoz and Hayden Harris as they defeated the Atlanta Braves 4-3.
Here are Today’s Three Things.
The Turning Point
The bottom of the third.
The inning started with the score tied 0-0 and ended with the Cubs leading 4-0. After a quick Matt Shaw popout, Kevin Alcantara and Nico Hoerner put together back-to-back singles to bring up all-star Kyle Tucker. He proceeded to give the big blow, taking a Joey Wentz 94 mph fastball and depositing it over the left field wall to put the Cubs up 3-0.
This, however, was not the end of the scoring. The rally resumed with a Seiya Suzuki walk. Carson Kelly struck out, but back-to-back singles by Justin Turner and Ian Happ scored another run, putting the Cubs up 4-0.
This was the only inning the Braves allowed runs, but it was enough to cost them the contest, as they failed to come back.
Today’s Player of the Game
Hitting out of the three hole, Albies went 2-4 with a single and a solo HR, his second straight multi-hit game.
The homer came in the fourth inning off of Cubs starter Shota Imanaga. Matt Olson had just come in to score on an Imanaga wild pitch, cutting the score to 4-1. Albies then delivered a rocket down the left field line, making it 4-2. Albies also delivered a single to left field in the sixth inning.
HONORABLE MENTION: Ha-Seong Kim. In his first game as the Braves’ shortstop, Kim went 2-4 with two singles. One on a groundball to right field and the other on an infield single in the ninth with two outs, the Braves’ only hit with a runner in scoring position tonight.
What You’ll Be Talking About
The Braves' reliever duo that made their Major League debuts tonight.
Twenty-five-year-old righty Rolddy Muñoz and twenty-six-year-old lefty Hayden Harris debuted tonight, much to the delight of Braves fans everywhere. Both delivered scoreless appearances.
Muñoz was the first to appear, relieving starter Joey Wentz in the fifth. The hard thrower immediately got a double play ball from Seiya Suzuki and a groundout from Carson Kelly. But that wasn’t it. Manager Brian Snitker sent him back out for the sixth. The sixth inning was a little shakier, as he gave up two walks; however, the runners were stranded as he got his first career strikeout of Kevin Alćantara.
Then came Hayden Harris, the most anticipated Braves reliever debut since AJ Minter in 2017, and he didn’t disappoint. The southpaw went three up, three down through the Cubs’ one, two & three hitters. There was some hard contact, but the inning was wrapped on s Nico Hoerner lineout on a nice Michael Harris sliding catch, a Willi Castro groundout to Ozzie Albies, and a Seiya Suzuki fly out to left fielder Eli White.
We have talked a lot about the transformation of Tyler Kinley, the possible resigning of surging closer Raisel Iglesias, and what the return of Joe Jimenez could bring to the Atlanta bullpen in 2026, but the performances of Munoz and Harris down the stretch will be something to keep an eye on.
Looking for more discussion about this game?
Here’s Lindsay on the live postgame show for Locked On Sports Atlanta.
What’s Next for the Braves?
After dropping the first two games of the series, the Braves will try to salvage the series tomorrow. Atlanta will turn to Bryce Elder (5-9, 5.85 ERA) to face stellar rookie Cade Horton (9-4, 2.92 ERA). First pitch is set for 7:40 ET.
A 2025 Atlanta Braves Special: Out hit the opponent and lose by one run. So important they start figuring out their bullpen and pitching staff in general heading into the offseason. Even with better injury luck, pitching depth is so critical in today’s game. Can the left-handed bullpen trio of Lee, Dodd and Harris, who are all under team control, be effective in 2026? They have many questions and seem to have a lot of potential solutions they need to start figuring it out now.