MLB Rookies of the Year 2022: Julio Rodríguez, Michael Harris II Win AL, NL Awards
Nov 15, 2022
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 11: Julio Rodriguez #44 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after scoring a run against the Houston Astros during the first inning in game one of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 11, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodríguez and Atlanta Braves star Michael Harris II were honored as the top rookies in the American and National Leagues on Monday.
Rodríguez topped the AL Rookie of the Year ballot in decisive fashion, collecting 29 first-place votes.
Rodríguez was the heavy favorite in the American League after he established himself as a franchise cornerstone while helping guide Seattle to the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
The 21-year-old finished with 28 home runs, 75 RBI and a .284/.345/.509 slash line. Despite only appearing in 132 games, he was 21st in WAR (5.3) among position players and tied for 14th in wOBA (.366).
Julio Rodríguez is the American League Rookie of the Year! 🏆
Beyond his contributions on the field, Rodríguez's youthful exuberance symbolized a new era for the Mariners. He's the organization's best young talent since Alex Rodriguez, and the comparisons to Ken Griffey Jr. are inescapable, though not embraced by the man himself.
"Quit comparing him to me," Griffey told The Athletic's Sam Blum in July. "Let that man create his own path."
The Mariners have already tied Rodríguez down with a 12-year, $209.3 million extension. He'll be calling the Pacific Northwest home for a long time, and there's no reason to believe the success he and the team enjoyed in 2022 represents a false dawn.
Julio Rodriguez is going to be one of the all-time greats.
There. I said it.
What a pleasure to watch him this year. An absolute stud and I can’t wait to watch his career play out
While the National League lacked a clear consensus pick, the Rookie of the Year battle was widely considered a two-horse race between Strider and Harris.
Strider wasted little time in becoming the ace of Atlanta's staff. In 131.2 innings the right-hander struck out 202 batters and posted a 1.83 FIP. According to Baseball Savant, he ranked in the 97th percentile in expected batting average (.179) and in the 96th percentile in expected slugging (.279).
Harris, meanwhile, provided an immediate impact after getting called up in May. The center fielder finished with an .853 OPS and a 135 OPS+ in 114 appearances. He helped the Braves lead the majors in slugging (.443) and isolated power (.190), per FanGraphs.
Atlanta acted quickly to reward both players for their efforts. Strider signed a six-year, $75 million extension, and Harris put pen to paper on an eight-year, $72 million deal.
The Braves have won five straight NL East titles, and their dominance of the division may not be winding down anytime soon.
MLB Rumors: Jacob deGrom Linked to Braves, Rangers; Mets Eyeing Strong Contract Offer
Nov 8, 2022
Jacob deGrom
The New York Mets are reportedly "most
worried" about the Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers as they attempt
to re-sign starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, who opted out of his
contract to become a free agent.
SNY's Andy Martino reported Tuesday the
Mets are expected to make a "strong" offer to bring back deGrom
early in free agency but aren't planning to stay in a long-term
bidding war with the Braves, Rangers and other interested clubs if that's how the situation plays out.
Martino also noted the two sides have had "preliminary contact":
The top of New York's pitching staff is
the main point of concern as free agency gets prepared to open Thursday, especially
after the team was able to re-sign closer Edwin Diaz to solidify the
back end of the bullpen.
There are a lot of question marks
behind Max Scherzer, which means multiple additions could be necessary if Carlos Carrasco and Chris Bassitt also
depart.
DeGrom coming back would provide a
major boost, but it doesn't sound like the Mets' front office is
willing to meet or exceed any offer to keep him.
The club is willing to pay fair market
value or "perhaps go a bit higher" but will otherwise attempt to
fill the void in another way, per Martino.
Watching the two-time Cy Young Award
winner, who's pitched his entire nine-year career with the Mets,
land with the NL East rival Braves would be a tough pill to
swallow, though.
Atlanta already features one of MLB's
best rotations with Max Fried, Spencer Strider, Kyle Wright and
Charlie Morton, and picking up a starter with a 2.52 ERA across 209
career starts would give the Braves the best starting group in
baseball.
Meanwhile, deGrom represents a bigger
need for the Rangers, who have more talent on their roster than their
68-94 record in 2022 would indicate. One of the missing pieces is a
true ace.
In October, Texas general manager Chris
Young didn't hide his intention to enter free agency with an eye
toward improving the rotation.
"We will be active on the free-agent
market with the intention of signing multiple starting pitchers," Young told reporters.
Landing deGrom would be a massive step
in the right direction toward rebuilding that area of the roster.
All told, it's hard to imagine the Mets won't do
everything in their power to keep their longtime ace, but all signs
point toward ample competition on the market.
Braves Must Keep Tabs on Trea Turner Following Latest Dansby Swanson MLB Rumors
Nov 5, 2022
Trea Turner
As the Atlanta Braves watch the 2022 World Series unfold without them, they're planning to regroup and reload in the offseason. Atlanta won 101 games during the regular season but was ousted in the divisional round by the eventual NL champion Philadelphia Phillies.
High on the Braves' to-do list is working out a new deal with All-Star shortstop Dansby Swanson. The 28-year-old was an integral part of last year's championship team, and he returned on a one-year, $10 million deal following arbitration.
Now an impending free agent, Swanson will hit the open market five days after the World Series ends if Atlanta doesn't first reach an extension.
Atlanta wants Swanson back, and according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, there is mutual interest, and the team has made an opening offer:
"The Braves made an opening offer in-season to star shortstop Dansby
Swanson, and sources suggested it was in the $100 million ballpark. The
friend thought Swanson, a Georgia product, preferred to stay in Atlanta.
That’s probably just a start, but it sounded like there’s work to do.
(Our expert’s pick was 75 percent higher)."
The Braves' interest in locking up Swanson is logical. He's young, plays a vital position and is coming off arguably his best season in the majors. In his inaugural All-Star campaign, Swanson batted .277 with 25 home runs and 96 RBI. He also received his first Gold Glove Award.
— Braves On FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSNBraves) November 1, 2022
Fortunately, it sounds like the Braves have a good chance of retaining Swanson in the offseason. Until he puts pen to paper, however, there remains a chance that they could lose him.
This is why Atlanta should, and reportedly does, have a backup plan in place. That plan appears to involve Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner.
There has been speculation that Turner would prefer to play on the East Coast, and according to Heyman, Turner is on Atlanta's radar:
"As for Turner, the latest rumor has the Braves as a possible fit if
they fail to keep the Atlanta product Swanson (they also like Correa).
The Cardinals, Phillies and Red Sox are among other potential spots
closer to his supposed geographic preference (he’s from Lake Worth,
Fla.; his wife New Jersey)."
Heyman also mentioned Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa, who plans to opt out. Turner, though, would seem to be the most likely target, if he is indeed looking to play out East.
The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya reported last month that the Dodgers and Turner did not engage in extension talks during the season.
"The
Dodgers informed Turner shortly before the start of the year they
wouldn’t make him a formal offer, and there haven’t been any discussions
between the two sides about an extension since," Ardaya wrote.
The 29-year-old is coming off of back-to-back All-Star campaigns and was the NL batting champion and stolen-base leader in 2021. This past season, he hit .298 with 21 home runs and 100 RBI to go with 27 stolen bases.
Like Swanson, Turner has World Series experience. He's also seasoned against National League pitchers, having played for the Washington Nationals before joining L.A. in 2021.
In short, Turner is a similarly young and top-end player who would seamlessly replace Swanson as a long-term building block in Atlanta. Correa—who is 28 years old and also a former champion and two-time All-Star—is a wonderful Plan C.
This is a good offseason to be in the shortstop market, and it provides the Braves with quality alternatives at the position. While Atlanta and its fans would probably prefer to just keep the home-grown Swanson in the fold, losing him won't necessarily end in disaster.
To avoid shortstop becoming a weakness, however, the Braves must be prepared to pivot when and if extension talks with Swanson hit a snag. While there are alternatives, they won't remain available for long.
Braves' Kenley Jansen Open to Signing Dodgers Contract in 2022 MLB Free Agency
Oct 23, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 15: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 15, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Kenley Jansen will be a free agent this offseason and told TMZ Sports he would consider re-signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers after spending last season with the Atlanta Braves.
"We'll see what's out there," he said of a possible return to Los Angeles.
Jansen said it will come down to whatever is the best decision for his family.
The relief pitcher spent the first 12 seasons of his major league career with the Dodgers before signing a one-year deal with the Braves. He led the National League with 41 saves, totaling a 3.38 ERA and 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
Jansen helped the Braves win the NL East with 101 wins, although the squad was eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the divisional round. The pitcher still enjoyed himself in Atlanta.
"I can tell you all great things about Atlanta," he told TMZ. "Atlanta is awesome. The fans, the people, the organization. I had a great time there, and we had a great season."
Retaining Jansen could help the Braves remain in contention with a bullpen that also features A.J. Minter, Collin McHugh and Dylan Lee.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, also lost in the divisional round of the playoffs despite winning 111 games during the regular season. Craig Kimbrel was inconsistent as the team's closer, and he could be replaced going into 2023.
The team's familiarity with Jansen could make it a perfect fit just a few years removed from helping the team win the 2020 World Series.
Of course, there could be plenty of demand around the league for a closer with three All-Star selections and at least 30 saves in eight of the last nine years.
Kyle Wright Celebrated by MLB Twitter in Braves' NLDS Game 2 Win vs. Phillies
Oct 13, 2022
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 12: Kyle Wright #30 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning in game two of the National League Division Series at Truist Park on October 12, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves knotted their National League Division Series with the Philadelphia Phillies at one game apiece after defeating their NL East rival 3-0 on Wednesday from Truist Park.
Atlanta starting pitcher Kyle Wright struck out six over six shutout innings while allowing just two hits and one walk.
The National League Cy Young candidate continued his torrid pace from the regular season when he went 21-5 with a 3.19 ERA and struck out nearly a batter per inning over 30 starts.
He didn't encounter much trouble Wednesday.
A Bryce Harper leadoff double in the second raised some cause for concern, but Wright sat the next three batters down.
JT Realmuto hit a one-out single in the fourth to potentially get a rally going with more power behind him in Harper and Nick Castellanos. They each smacked long fly balls, but both fell into center fielder Michael Harris II's glove.
Atlanta did all its damage at the dish with two outs in the sixth after three straight RBI singles from Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Travis d'Arnaud.
From there, the Atlanta bullpen did its job with three shutout innings, allowing just one hit along the way.
Wright ultimately set the table for Atlanta, which bounced back from a tough 7-6 series-opening loss the day before.
Staff ace Max Fried uncharacteristically struggled in Game 1 with four earned runs over 3.1 innings, and Atlanta needed a quality start from Wright to get back on track, especially with a taxed bullpen.
Now Atlanta won't fly to Philadelphia in a do-or-die scenario for Game 3.
Here's how Twitter felt about Wright, who went 8-0 over his last nine regular-season starts and continued his dominance of Philadelphia this year.
If there was an MLB most improved player award, Kyle Wright would win it. From a complete liability with a 6.56 ERA and 6.2 walks per nine innings from 2018-2021 to the Braves being the verge of going 17-1 in his last 18 starts and leading the league in wins.
Game 3 will go down Friday at 4:37 p.m. ET from Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. Aaron Nola will be the Phillies' starter. Atlanta did not announce its Game 3 pitcher prior to Game 2.
MLB Playoff Picture 2022: Braves in Shape to Win World Series After Sweeping Mets
Oct 3, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 2: Dansby Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after hitting a home run against the New York Mets during the first inning at Truist Park on October 2, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Adam Hagy/Getty Images)
The Atlanta Braves delivered a statement to rest of Major League Baseball with their three-game sweep of the New York Mets.
The reigning World Series champion launched itself to the top of the National League East standings with the three victories.
Atlanta holds a two-game lead on the Mets with three games left in the regular season. One win or one Mets loss will lock up the NL East crown and a bye into the divisional series for the Braves.
Every ounce of Atlanta's three-game sweep proved it could compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros and New York Yankees in any potential postseason series.
Atlanta took wins off Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt, the trio that will likely form the Mets' playoff rotation, received clutch hits from its best players and had its bullpen thrive in the back end of games.
The Braves hit three home runs against deGrom on Friday night. Dansby Swanson, Austin Riley and Matt Olson provided the solo shots that served as a warning for what was to come for the rest of the series.
Swanson and Olson homered off Scherzer on Saturday and Swanson took Bassitt deep in the first inning of Sunday's series finale.
Swanson entered the series with three home runs and six hitless games between Sept. 13 and 28. He had more than one RBI in two games over that 15-day span.
Olson experienced his worst month of the plate before getting hot against the Mets. The first baseman finished September with a .169 batting average and .591 OPS. His two home runs to start October made up half the home run total he recorded in September.
Atlanta needed Swanson and Olson to get on track at the plate to have any chance of going deep in the postseason. Now it has five players with five or more hits in the last seven days. Swanson, Olson and leadoff man Ronald Acuna Jr. are three of those players.
Atlanta's lineup has been lauded as one of the deepest in the league all season. Michael Harris II and Vaughn Grissom seamlessly transitioned into the offense and have become vital cogs in the bottom half of the order. Grissom's success has been more important because he has filled the role of the injured Ozzie Albies at second base.
The Atlanta bats totaled 14 runs on 24 hits against the Mets and proved that they could achieve success against any of the top pitchers in the game. The performances against deGrom and Scherzer could fuel the team's confidence if they go up against the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole if a deep postseason run happens.
Max Fried, Kyle Wright and Charlie Morton did enough to keep the Mets lineup at bay before the bullpen took over in each contest. Fried made his case to be a Game 1 starter by producing his 10th straight start with two earned runs or fewer.
Wright, a 21-game winner, scattered seven hits and gave up two earned runs in five innings. Morton gutted through a 4.1-inning outing in which he gave up two solo home runs.
Fried, Wright and Morton may have more importance attached to their roles in the postseason because rookie phenom Spencer Strider is on the injured list with an oblique injury.
Atlanta's wins over the Mets should allow it to celebrate its fifth straight division title in Miami. That could happen as early as Monday.
Securing the No. 2 seed is vital for the Braves to make a deep push into the postseason. They will avoid the best-of-three wild-card series and land on the opposite side of the bracket as the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atlanta would play the winner of the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies if the season had ended Sunday. Philadelphia's magic number to clinch the final wild-card spot is one.
Atlanta went 4-3 against St. Louis and 11-8 versus Philadelphia. The NL East leader lost one series to Philadelphia and dropped two of three in St. Louis in August. A potential matchup with Philadelphia or St. Louis beats the prospect of dealing with the pitching staffs of the Dodgers, Mets and San Diego Padres before the NLCS.
Brian Snitker's team is on the easier side of the NL playoff bracket, and whichever team emerges from the other side could be tired from a five-game battle in the divisional series. The Mets or Padres could play eight games before even reaching the NLCS.
Atlanta does not have home-field advantage if it plays the Dodgers in a third straight NLCS, but the experience of playing in Dodger Stadium and against the NL West champion's deep roster could help if it gets that far.
In one weekend, Atlanta went from having to play three playoff series to get to the World Series to a likely division winner and on the easier side of the NL postseason bracket.
Atlanta still has to win its postseason games, but it could not have asked for a better setup when it comes to matchups and the emotional boost it earned from sweeping the Mets.
Mets vs. Braves: Which Team Is Better Built for a Deep Run in MLB Playoffs?
Sep 30, 2022
New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor celebrate after scoring during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
There's a pretty huge series set to go down over the weekend in Atlanta, where the top two teams in the National League East will meet for one last bout over the division title.
This makes now as good a time as any to look at how Atlanta and the New York Mets are situated not just for this weekend's three-game set, but for the road ahead to what may be a subsequent showdown in the National League Championship Series.
The Mets have the upper hand right now, but barely. With their record at 98-58 and Atlanta's at 97-59, the two teams are separated by just one game in the NL East standings. As both will have just one more series left after this one wraps on Sunday, it's now or never for them to state their cases for the division crown and the perks that come with it.
Regardless, this won't be the last time both clubs have their eyes on the same prize.
Atlanta is looking to win the World Series for the second time in as many years. The Mets are hoping to return to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2015 and, even more hopefully, to snap a championship drought that dates to the days of Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden in 1986.
A Brief Outlook for an Outsized Series
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Eddie Rosario #8, Michael Harris II #23 and Ronald Acuna Jr. #13 of the Atlanta Braves react after their 5-2 win over the Washington Nationals at Truist Park on September 19, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
With the Mets having won nine out of 12 and Atlanta having won 10 out of 15, both clubs are coming into this series hot.
Thankfully, it doesn't sound as if the weather is going to cool either of them down. There had been concerns of Hurricane Ian impacting the series, but less so now:
The latest forecasts indicate rain will not be an issue during this weekend's Mets-Braves series at Truist Park
Meanwhile, here are the probable starters for this weekend's action at Truist Park:
Friday, Sep. 30: RHP Jacob deGrom vs. LHP Max Fried
Saturday, Oct. 1: RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Kyle Wright
Sunday, Oct. 2: RHP Chris Bassitt vs. RHP Charlie Morton
With NL Rookie of the Year front-runner Spencer Strider out with oblique soreness, Fried, Wright and Morton are the three best starters Atlanta has right now. A good trio, to be sure, but one neither as decorated nor as hot as deGrom, Scherzer and Bassitt. The first two have five Cy Young Awards between them, and all three have pitched to a combined 2.44 ERA since deGrom made his season debut on Aug. 2.
Despite Starling Marte's absence with a fractured finger, the Mets have also been the better offensive team in September. Even as Atlanta has held strong with a 108 wRC+ and 4.7 runs per game, Pete Alonso and Eduardo Escobar have led the Mets to a 125 wRC+ and 5.3 runs per game.
So even with home-field advantage for the weekend, Atlanta has its work cut out for it in securing at least a tie for the division lead by winning two out of three. For their part, the Mets can drop their magic number to one with two wins and to zero with a clean sweep.
Of course, what's at stake in this weekend's series is not so much the NL East title as the aforementioned perks: a trip directly to the National League Division Series by way of a bye in the first round of the playoffs, and home-field advantage therewithin.
As the difference is between having to win just seven games as opposed to nine, the shorter road to the World Series is not to be discounted. Extra rest is also never a bad thing, and whichever team gets it will be able to line its pitching up as it wants for the NLDS.
Why Atlanta Is Made to Go Far
Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuna Jr. is greeted by Dansby Swanson after hitting a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Even if Atlanta doesn't pull off an at-the-buzzer comeback to win its fifth straight NL East title, the Mets aren't the only team that's advised not to underestimate the defending champs' chances of going through them on the way back to the World Series.
Of all the reasons, the big one is, well, the big one: This Atlanta offense can score runs the easy way.
Even noting that its 234 home runs are the second-most in MLB after the Aaron Judge-led New York Yankees isn't really giving Atlanta's offense proper credit. It is downright consistent in hitting the long ball, as its 122 games with at least one home run lead MLB.
As Atlanta well knows from last year, hitting the ball over the fence is also a good way to win playoff games in general. Between 2012 and 2021, the team that won the home run battle within a given game also won the game itself 59.3 percent of the time.
Of late, the best sign for Atlanta has been the sudden reemergence of Ronald Acuña Jr. The 2019 NL Rookie of the Year is 10-for-his-last-39 with four homers.
Strider's health permitting, Atlanta could also have four top-of-the-rotation types to throw at the opposition in the postseason. With an MLB-low 1.57 ERA in September, its bullpen is likewise situated to one-up even last year's "Night Shift" crew.
As for the question of whether there's enough playoff experience in Atlanta's dugout, well, there is no question. There are some newcomers and an extraordinary class of rookies, sure, but most of the same guys who were there to win it all in 2021 are still there in 2022.
Why the Mets Are Made to Go Far
New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom delivers during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Because they've hit 73 fewer home runs—or one 2001 Barry Bonds' worth—than Atlanta, the Mets will be punching above their weight if the next three games and any future head-to-head contests devolve into slugfests.
For that matter, the Mets might not want to count on offense being the thing that gets them through October. Their offense's best asset is its second-ranked .332 on-base percentage, and recent history suggests this asset is due for a decline in October:
It's a good thing, then, the Mets can take comfort in their pitching's propensity for punchouts.
Mets hurlers rank first in MLB with 538 strikeouts since deGrom's return in August. He and Scherzer have 151 of those just between themselves, with closer Edwin Díaz pitching in another 32 over just 18.1 innings.
Though not quite as important as home runs, strikeouts are still another thing that tends to correlate with success in the playoffs. In the last 10 postseasons, teams that won the strikeout battle in a game also won the game 54.8 percent of the time.
Perhaps the best reason to believe in the Mets as a playoff threat, however, lies in how they've already proved themselves against the best of MLB.
Whereas Atlanta is only 33-34 against other winning teams, the Mets are 41-31. That includes a 38-23 performance against the six clubs they could encounter in the NL playoffs: Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals.
Having posted a winning record against other winning teams in the regular season isn't a guarantee of a deep playoff run, but it does help. Of the 44 teams that have played in the World Series since 2000, only 12 made it after posting a losing record against winning teams.
So You're Saying We Can Only Pick One?
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 15: Atlanta Braves catcher William Contreras (24) leads off first base as New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) carefully covers the base during the Monday evening MLB game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves on 8-15-2022 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As much as we want to, we recognize that it would be an anticlimactic hedge if we were to say that, when it comes to which of them is the better bet for a deep playoff run, there's no wrong answer between the Mets and Atlanta.
If we must pick one, let's just say that FanGraphs' odds of these teams making it to the World Series look about right:
Mets: 28.2 percent
Atlanta: 15.9 percent
Atlanta's problem isn't necessarily in its construction. Its mastery of home runs is the real deal, and its pitching is arguably even better than what it had last year.
The odds nonetheless do seem to be against Atlanta, and not just because it is presently at a disadvantage for the NL East crown and the oh-so-valuable first-round bye. It's also just not that often that a World Series winner returns to the Fall Classic the next year. It hasn't been done since the 2008-09 Phillies, who were the first to do it since the 1998-2001 Yankees.
As for the Mets, this weekend's series is a chance to draw what would likely be a viable blueprint for success in October: Let deGrom, Scherzer and Bassitt set the tone, get just enough offense and then turn things over to Díaz.
Simple, perhaps, but it may not be long before there's no doubting its effectiveness.
Report: MLB Weighing Contingency Plans for Mets-Braves Series Due to Hurricane Ian
Sep 28, 2022
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 30: A general view of the scoreboard as fans are seen holding up Stand Up 2 Cancer placards during Game 4 of the 2021 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Saturday, October 30, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Major League Baseball is reportedly in
talks with the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets about "contingency
plans" for their weekend series as Hurricane Ian impacts
the southeast.
The Braves and Mets, who are tied for
the NL East division lead with seven games left in the regular
season, are scheduled to play a three-game series at Truist Park in
Atlanta beginning Friday.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported
Tuesday that early discussions centered around moving Friday's game from
the night to the afternoon and potentially playing a split
doubleheader Sunday.
The league hasn't yet considered a
neutral-site series, which would take away the Braves' home-field
advantage and cost the franchise revenue, or moving the start of the series to Thursday despite a mutual day off, per DiComo.
"We know what's going on," Mets
manager Buck Showalter said. "I really don't want to put a focus on
that, because our guys have done a great job of staying on task."
Saturday looks like the biggest point
of concern for the remnants of Hurricane Ian hitting Atlanta. The
Weather Channel forecast calls for late-day showers Friday and
improved conditions Sunday, but a strong chance of all-day rain on
Saturday.
If the teams aren't able to play part of the series this weekend, the only option would be tacking the games on
to the end of the regular season, which wraps up Oct. 5. That
isn't ideal because either the Braves or Mets are heading to the
wild-card playoff round once they don't win the division.
One scenario could be playing a
doubleheader Oct. 6 to decide the NL East and then moving straight to the wild-card round
Oct. 7, which is obviously a major concern in terms of lining up
starting pitchers.
So MLB will likely try everything
possible to get all three games in at some point this weekend to
avoid putting either team at a competitive disadvantage for the
playoffs.
An initial decision about how to
initially alter the schedule may not come until Friday morning,
according to DiComo.
New York led the NL East by as much as
10.5 games in early June as Atlanta, the reigning World Series
champions, got off to an ice-cold start.
The Braves have posted MLB's best
record since June 1 (74-31), however, to fight back into a tie at
97-58 heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
It's a race that will significantly
impact both teams' championship chances because the division winner
gets the No. 2 NL seed and a bye, while the other club will need to
survive a three-game wild-card series and then face the top-seeded
Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round if they advance.
Meanwhile, CNN noted Hurricane Ian was
close to Category 5 status as of Wednesday morning as it moved close
to Florida's west coast.
Atlanta Braves Visit Joe Biden, White House to Celebrate 2021 World Series Win
Sep 26, 2022
US President Joe Biden is presented an Atrlanta Braves jersey in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on September 26, 2022, as he hosts a celebration for the Braves following their 2021 World Series championship. On right is Braves chairman Terry McGuirk. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
The comeback story for the 2021 Atlanta Braves ended up all the way in the White House.
President Joe Biden welcomed the reigning World Series champions to the White House on Monday and praised the team for "one of history's greatest turnarounds."
I was honored to host the 2021 World Series Champion Atlanta Braves at the White House today.
One of history’s greatest turnarounds, their first title in 26 years didn't come easy. But I know in Georgia, you show up when it counts.
Aamer Madhani and Colleen Long of the Associated Press noted Biden added the Braves will be "forever known as the upset kings of October" and called their bounce-back efforts last year an "unstoppable, joyful run."
Atlanta was under .500 in August but managed to turn its season around, reach the playoffs and then dispatch the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers in October. It faced the Houston Astros in the World Series and won that matchup in six games.
Jorge Soler was the World Series MVP.
The Braves will once again be in the playoffs in 2022, although it remains to be seen whether they will be a wild-card team or the National League East champions. They are 1.5 games behind the New York Mets in the division race and face their rivals in a crucial three-game series at home starting Friday.
Braves' Kyle Wright Becomes MLB's 1st 20-Game Winner After Going Winless Last Season
Sep 25, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Kyle Wright #30 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 24, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Atlanta Braves starter Kyle Wright added another milestone to his outstanding 2022 season on Saturday.
The right-hander became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to win 20 games this season after allowing two earned runs in 5.1 innings in the Braves' 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Wright entered this season with two career wins (both in 2020) in 21 appearances, including an 0-1 mark with a 9.95 ERA in two starts last year.
"I don't know if I realized how cool it was until my teammates and coaches congratulated me real quick afterward," Wright told reporters after the game. "It's a team stat, and I couldn't have done it without them scoring runs and playing defense."
The 26-year-old's success is yet another illustration of Atlanta's player development that has been so good in recent years.
Wright was the No. 5 overall pick by the Braves in the 2017 draft. He made his big-league debut the following year, posting a 4.50 ERA in four relief appearances.
Atlanta put Wright in the starting rotation to begin the 2019 season. He struggled out of the gate and was optioned to Triple-A after allowing six runs in 3.2 innings in his third start vs. the New York Mets. He finished with an 8.69 ERA in seven games.
During the 2020 season that was shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wright did spend the entire year in the big leagues. He had a 5.21 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in eight starts.
Despite his struggles in 2021, Braves manager Brian Snitker showed tremendous faith in Wright by using him in relief in Game 6 of the World Series. He took over for Dylan Lee in the top of the first inning and allowed one run in 4.2 innings against the Houston Astros.
Atlanta went on to win the game 3-2 to clinch its first World Series title since 1995.
Now, in his second full season, Wright has already blown by his career-highs in games started (29), innings (175.1) and strikeouts (171). The Vanderbilt alum is the second National League pitcher to win 20 games in a season since 2017 (Julio Urias, 2021).
The last time Atlanta had a 20-game winner was Russ Ortiz in 2003.
Wright's win also helped the Braves get within 1.5 games of the New York Mets atop the NL East. Both teams have already clinched a playoff spot, but the division winner will likely be able to avoid playing in the wild-card round.
