Braves: NLDS Game 3 Preview

After a 3-0 Braves win in Game 2 to even it up, the series comes to Atlanta. With Ian Anderson and Freddy Peralta taking the mound for their respective teams, I would expect another game where runs are hard to come by.

The Starters

Ian Anderson:

Season:

24 Starts; 9-5

3.58 ERA

1.231 WHIP

2.34 SO/W

Postseason:

4 Starts; 2-0

0.96 ERA

1.125 WHIP

2.40 SO/W

Freddy Peralta:

Season:

28 Games (27 Starts); 10-5

2.81 ERA

0.970 WHIP

3.48 SO/W

Postseason:

2 Games (0 Starts; 4IP)

2.25 ERA

1.000 WHIP

2.33 SO/W

After a phenomenal 2020 campaign in which he had a 1.95 ERA in six starts and absolutely shoved in the playoffs, Ian Anderson was due for some regression. Fortunately for the Braves, he was still really good this year even after hitters had a chance to get their eyes on him. With a changeup that opponents are only hitting .197 against, Anderson was probably Atlanta’s most consistent pitcher this season from beginning to end. He did have a stint on the IL for about a month and a half, but he came back as the same old Ian, pitching to a 3.62 ERA in his last six starts. That includes his last outing of the season against the Phillies where he only allowed two runs as he led the way to the Braves clinching the NL East for the fourth consecutive season. As I mentioned before, Ian was lights out in the playoffs last year, with the only two runs he allowed coming in that infamous NLCS Game 7 to the Los Angeles Dodgers. I would expect more of the same today as Mr. Anderson plays his best when the lights are the brightest.

In a rotation that includes the Cy Young favorite Corbin Burnes and All-Star Brandon Woodruff, Freddy Peralta is often forgotten about. Shame on those who do because Peralta is definitely no slouch and has proved it all season. He had a magnificent year, capping it off with an All-Star game appearance. In games that he has pitched in, the Brewers are 19-9, and he has 20(!) starts where he only allowed two earned runs or less. That is absolutely insane.

The Bullpens

With there being an off day between Games 2 and 3, it would be reasonable to believe that everyone is available for both teams, save for Tyler Matzek and maybe Luke Jackson. Matzek pitched 1 inning in Game 1 and 1.1 in Game 2 with a total of 45 pitches over those two games. He deserves the day off, along with Luke who pitched 1.2 innings.

The Lineups

The Braves won on Saturday, so don’t expect any changes to the lineup. I personally believe that Joc Pederson should play in left over Rosario, but Brian Snitker doesn’t really care what I think. The Brewers will probably do some shuffling around trying to find the most optimal lineup after only scoring two total runs in two games.

 

(ex: Player: BA/OBP/SLG; OPS; HR; RBI; SB; Career vs Anderson/Peralta)

Jorge Soler: .223/.316/.432; .749 OPS; 27 HR; 70 RBI

Freddie Freeman: .300/.393/.503; .896 OPS; 31 HR; 83 RBI; 8 SB; 2-9 2B RBI 2K

Ozzie Albies: .259/.310/.488; .799 OPS; 30 HR; 106 RBI; 20 SB; 1-7 2B 2BB K

Austin Riley: .303/.367/.531; .898 OPS; 33 HR; 107 RBI; 1-2 BB K

Adam Duvall: .228/.281/.491; .772 OPS; 38 HR; 113 RBI; 5 SB; 0-1 BB

Eddie Rosario: .259/.305/.435; .740 OPS; 14 HR; 62 RBI; 11 SB; 0-4 2K

Travis d’Arnaud: .220/.284/.388; .671 OPS; 7 HR; 26 RBI

Dansby Swanson: .248/.311/.449: .760 OPS; 27 HR; 88 RBI; 9 SB; 0-5 2BB K

Ian Anderson: .054/.079/.081; .160 OPS

Bench:

Joc Pederson: .238/.310/.422; .732 OPS; 18 HR; 61 RBI; 2 SB; 1-6 4BB 4K

Guillermo Heredia: .220/.311/.354; .665 OPS; 5 HR; 26 RBI

Ehire Adrianza: .247/.327/.401; .728 OPS; 5 HR; 28 RBI; 1-7 BB 4K SB

William Contreras: .215/.303/.399; .701 OPS; 8 HR; 23 RBI; 1-2 K

Orlando Arcia: .198/.258/.309; .567 OPS; 2 HR; 14 RBI; SB

Terrance Gore: (AAA) .232/.361/.319; .680 OPS; RBI; 18 SB

Brewers:

Kolten Wong: .272/.335/.447; .783 OPS; 14 HR; 50 RBI; 12 SB; 0-2 BB

Willy Adames: .262/.337/.481; .818 OPS; 25 HR; 73 RBI; 5 SB

Eduardo Escobar: .253/.314/.472; .786 OPS; 28 HR; 90 RBI; SB

Christian Yelich: .248/.362/.373; .736 OPS; 9 HR; 51 RBI; 9 SB

Avisail Garcia: .262/.330/.490; .820 OPS; 29 HR; 86 RBI; 8 SB; 0-3 K

Lorenzo Cain: .257/.329/.401; .729 OPS; 8 HR; 36 RBI; 13 SB

Rowdy Tellez: .272/.333/.481; .814 OPS; 7 HR; 28 RBI

Omar Narvaez: .266/.342/.402; .743 OPS; 11 HR; 49 RBI; 0-1 2BB

Freddy Peralta: .093/.114/.093; .207 OPS

Bench:

Jace Peterson: .247/.348/.367; .714 OPS; 6 HR; 31 RBI; 10 SB

Luis Urías: .249/.345/.445; .789 OPS; 23 HR; 75 RBI; 5 SB; 0-2

Daniel Vogelbach: .219/.349/.381; .730 OPS; 9 HR; 24 RBI; 1-3 K

Manny Piña: .189/.293/.439; .732 OPS; 13 HR; 33 RBI

Tyrone Taylor: .247/.321/.457; .778 OPS; 12 HR; 43 RBI; 6 SB; 0-1 BB

Luke Maile: .300/.382/.433; .816 OPS; 3 RBI

Jackie Bradley Jr.: .163/.236/.261; .497 OPS; 6 HR; 29 RBI; 7 SB; 0-4 2K