Just when you think it can’t get any worse for the Braves offense, they continue to outdo themselves, and yesterday was just another example.
For what felt like the millionth straight game, a Braves starting pitcher turned in another gem. This time, it was Charlie Morton, who is finishing the season strong and putting together another really solid year. He nearly went seven innings, allowing just one run on six hits with seven strikeouts. For any other Braves team over the last seven years, it would have been more than enough to earn the win. But this offense has been arguably the worst offense in baseball since late April, and last night might actually be rock bottom, if that’s even possible for this group.
The Braves mustered just two hits, and at one point, Nick Martinez set down 17 batters in a row. Nick Martinez, a converted reliever and owns a pedestrian 4.18 ERA over 237 career appearances. It would be one thing if prime Jacob deGrom was doing this, but every night, it seems like a new journeyman pitcher is having a career day against the Braves, who continue to slide in the NL Wild Card standings.
With the Mets, the hottest team in baseball, winning again last night, the Braves are now on the outside looking in of the postseason with fewer than 20 games to play, trailing New York by one game. They do have the opportunity to play the Mets at Truist Park in the second-to-last series of the season. If they can get there without falling too far behind, history tells us some crazy things can happen. However, it’s difficult to watch this Braves team every night and say they are deserving of October baseball. The pitching staff has been outstanding, but nobody deserves to have to watch Atlanta’s offense play on a national stage.
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Photo: Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire
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