Today's Three Things: Braves Shut Out By Lefty Parker Messick and Guardians
Atlanta couldn't figure out the sequencing of Parker Messick en route to their first shutout loss of the year
The Atlanta Braves were shut out for the first time this season, losing 6-0 to the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday night in Truist Park.
Here is Today’s Three Things from the contest.
The Turning Point
Honestly, the top of the ninth.
Atlanta was down just 3-0 and the game was still within closing distance. But Osvaldo Bido, trying to cover a third inning after needing to pitch last night, finally ran out of gas. He picked up two quick outs before walking Steven Kwan, who then came all the way around to score on a stolen base attempt with the ugliest defensive play you’ve seen in a while (more on that later). Angel Martínez then doubled before the Braves finally pulled the plug on Bido and went to Tyler Kinley, but a José Ramírez walk, a double steal, and a single pushed the Cleveland lead to 6-0.
Had the Braves been able to keep it close, they could have gotten to work against the Guardians high-leverage arms in a save situation. Atlanta entered tonight’s contest as one of MLB’s best offenses against opponent bullpens, putting up a .298/.361/.502 line and being third in runs against relievers with 43. Their .863 OPS was 2nd-best in MLB to only the Los Angeles Dodgers, and we’ve seen the Braves hang a crooked number against a closer before (March 28th against Kansas City, the Dom Smith walkoff grand slam game.)
Instead, down six instead of three, they still managed to get two on before two strikeouts and a pop-out ended things.
Today’s Player of the Game
Shocker, but there’s not one. Five hits and no runs don’t beget a player of the game.
What You’ll Be Talking About
Atlanta’s offensive futility.
The top of the order got a runner in scoring position on four different occasions, but Atlanta could never bring them in en route to an 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Tonight was mostly the opposite of usual Braves wins - the top of the order accounted for two walks and four hits, including a double (Matt Olson) and a triple (Ronald Acuña Jr.), but the bottom five hitters combined for just one hit and one walk.
Plenty of credit is due to Guardians lefty Parker Messick - he did a masterful job of sequencing tonight, establishing his four-seamer the first time through the order with 46% usage before pivoting. The second and third times through the order saw him triple his changeup usage from the first at-bats, while he leaned harder on the curveball the second time through and ramped up his sinker the third time through. Braves hitters just never felt that comfortable with what Messick was trying to do, and he mostly had his way despite average-at-best raw ‘stuff’.
That being said, the Braves didn’t have much in the way of a gameplan at the plate. The top of the order seemed to be alternating between ambushing early in their plate appearances and trying to work the count and run up Messick’s counts. The bottom of the order felt incredibly passive tonight, taking called strikes in the zone early before flailing on the edges once behind.
An overall forgettable game.
What You’ll Be Talking About, Hilariously Terrible Defense Edition
I’m sorry Jonah Heim, but what was this?
I had high hopes for the former Gold Glover when he signed to open spring training, but his late single notwithstanding, there’s not much that he has shown to justify a bench spot once the rehabbing Sean Murphy returns to Atlanta before the end of the month.
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 looking to win the series tomorrow evening, on NBC’s Sunday Night Baseball. Staff ace Chris Sale (2-1, 3.94) takes on Guardians Opening Day starter Tanner Bibee (0-1, 3.29) at 7:20 PM ET.