Today's Three Things: Offense at a minimum as Braves drop one-run game
The Braves fail to get much offense as they are shut down by Edward Cabrera once again
On a night where Spencer Strider delivers seven innings of one-run ball, the Atlanta Braves failed to score enough runs as they dropped tonight’s game 2-1 to the Miami Marlins.
Here are Today’s Three Things.
The Turning Point
The bottom of the fifth inning.
Coming into the bottom half tied 0-0, Miami delivered the first blow. It started off with an Otto Lopez walk and a stolen base. After an Eric Wagaman strikeout, Troy Johnston stepped up and broke the score with a double to the right-center gap, putting the Marlins up 1-0.
With offense at a premium, this seemed like enough to win the game with the way Marlins starter Edward Cabrera was throwing. However, the Fish added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. This ended up being needed, as Drake Baldwin delivered a solo home run with the Braves down to their last strike.
Today’s Player of the Game
Spencer Strider.
The “washed” talk about Strider was getting loud, but tonight he delivered his first quality start since July 18th. The right-hander went seven innings, gave up just three hits, and one earned run.
After giving up a triple to Xavier Edwards to lead off the game, Strider proceeded to get three straight ground balls to strand the leadoff man. This included a nice play from third baseman Nacho Alvarez to cut Edwards down at home.
This performance, though, was not very Strider-like, but more Greg Maddux-like. The aforementioned three ground balls were part of a career-high nine for Strider, whose previous record in a single game was eight. Not to mention, the induced vertical break on Strider’s four-seam was up to near where it was in 2023, an encouraging improvement over the merely league-average numbers he was putting up earlier this season.
Even though a loss was credited, this was definitely a start to build on for Spencer Strider.
What You’ll Be Talking About
After a series against Miami two weeks ago, one where he went 6-15 with four homers, Braves fans were back on the Ozuna train. However, the train seems to be stuck in the station.
Ozuna is now 0 for his last 13 with seven strikeouts. This includes tonight’s game, where he was 0-4 with two strikeouts, even striking out in the bottom of the ninth without swinging the bat once in the six-pitch at-bat.
With catcher Sean Murphy struggling as well, manager Brian Snitker has limited options at the DH role. This is not a good time for Ozuna to be struggling, as he is on the tail end of a contract year.
With both of these hitters unable to get it going at the plate, it should now be a priority for rookie catcher Drake Baldwin to get a majority of these at-bats. Murphy can start behind the plate, as he provides excellent defense and game-calling, while Baldwin can take a majority of the playing time at designated hitter as he pushes for the NL Rookie of the Year award.
Looking for more discussion about this game?
Here’s Lindsay over on the Braves Postcast with a breakdown of tonight’s loss:
What’s Next for the Braves?
The Braves look to even the series tomorrow evening from LoanDepot Park.
Hurston Waldrep (4-0, 0.73 ERA) will look to continue his 2025 dominance against former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara (7-11, 6.05 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 ET.
To me the most notable aspect of Strider's game was keeping his fastball out of the center of the strike zone. If he can learn to hit spots and move the location around, 95mph could be just fine.
Cabrera was impressive: velo, movement, command, change of pace. He made Olson, Ozuna, and Albies look lost. (Albies' nick name should be 'Ozzie Pop-Up').