Today's Three Things: Braves FINALLY get a Sunday win by taking finale versus Marlins

Since the Speedway Classic was a resumption of Saturday's postponement, today was Atlanta's first Sunday win since May 18th in Boston

The Atlanta Braves took down the Miami Marlins 7-1 in Sunday’s series finale from Truist Park in Atlanta.

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

The Turning Point

The bottom of the 5th for Atlanta.

With Matt Olson having tied the game at 1-1 the inning before, thanks to a solo homer, the Braves were looking to get on the board against new pitcher Tyler Phillips. And once again, they did it without the benefit of a home run.

After Eli White struck out to open the inning, Nacho Alvarez Jr. wore a sweeper to give Atlanta a baserunner. Nick Allen’s strikeout made it feel like the Braves weren’t going to do the dang thing, but Jurickson Profar ripped a 1-1 sweeper to right field, scoring Nacho from 1st.

Atlanta wasn’t done, though. After Profar advanced to third on a wild pitch, Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna both drew walks to load the bases. Jurickson Profar then scored from third on Phillips’ second wild pitch of the inning, pushing the Braves lead to 3-1.

It’d stay there until today’s Player of the Game had his say a few innings later.

Today’s Player of the Game

The Braves scored four more runs in the 7th to put this one away, with three of them coming off of the bat of Marcell Ozuna.

The Big Bear hit his third homer of the series, scoring Profar and Olson (who both singled their way on) and pushing the lead to 6-1. Playing for a free agent contract, Ozuna has turned it on since being reinserted into the lineup - he’s hitting .275 with a .725 slug over his last fifteen games, belting six homers and driving in fourteen.

With how hard it is for free agent designated hitters to get more than one year in free agency once they hit the age of 35, getting as much distance from his first-half swoon is critical to Ozuna securing either a second guaranteed year or some sort of player option for 2027.

What You’ll Be Talking About

The resurgence of Atlanta’s offense, which has officially scored seven or more runs in three straight games for the first time this season with today’s win.

As of 5:12 PM ET on Sunday, the Braves are 7th in runs scored post All-Star Break with 111, despite being just 12th in homers over that same time period with 28. They’re doing it via stringing together multiple hits and drawing walks at an absurd rate - Atlanta’s 103 post-ASG walks are twenty-five more than the next closest team, the Cleveland Guardians and their 78.

Now, whether or not this carries over to next season is an open question. Manager Brian Snitker is widely expected to retire from managing after this campaign concludes. Does the new manager, whether someone from the Bobby Cox coaching tree (Walt Weiss?) or from outside (like Skip Schumaker or David Ross) retain Hyers and double-down on that philosophy, or do they bring in their own coaches? There’s an argument to be made, assuming you buy this recent offensive surge as being fueled by Hyers, that both he and Rick Kranitz (pitching coach) should be given the chance to return. We’ll see what the Braves do after the season when Snitker officially announces his decision.

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 win/loss.

What’s Next for the Braves?

The Braves are flying to New York, where they’ll enjoy an off day before taking on a reeling Mets team that just got swept by the Brewers and have lost eleven of their last twelve. All three games are set for 7:10 PM ET start times and here are the pitching matchups:

Tuesday: Spencer Strider (5-9, 4.04) vs RHP Clay Holmes (9-6, 3.46)
Wednesday: Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 6.18) vs LHP David Peterson (7-5, 2.98)
Thursday: Bryce Elder (4-9, 6.12) vs RHP Kodai Senga (7-4, 2.30)