Braves Today

The Atlanta Braves have called up top pitching prospect JR Ritchie for his MLB debut this afternoon in Washington versus the Nationals. Here's how we got here, who he is as a pitcher, and what to expect in his first career MLB start.

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After the Braves’ 11–4 loss to the Nationals featuring 12 team walks and a disastrous start from Ronaldo López (46-pitch first inning, pulled in the second), Lindsay Crosby breaks down why López’s last two starts are more concerning for the process than the ERA, highlighting a sharp drop in slider/curve effectiveness and missed bats since the Angels fight. The episode also recaps Spencer Strider’s rehab start for Gwinnett (4.1 IP, 8 K, 1 H, 1 BB) with Statcast notes on velocity and fastball shape, and maps out a potential timeline for his return. Finally, it discusses how recent heavy bullpen usage could force roster shuffling, possible call-ups from Gwinnett, and why underlying metrics make Aaron Bummer the most concerning reliever despite being used effectively in a fireman role.

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The Braves beat the Nationals 9–4, but the main focus is Ronald Acuña Jr. leaving after being hit twice by Jake Irvin—first on the elbow pad, then on the top of the hand—before being removed for the bottom of the sixth; in-game X-rays were negative, he’s officially day-to-day, and the team had no plans for an MRI as of last night, with lineup status dependent on next-day soreness. Lindsay Crosby also recaps Bryce Elder’s 6 2/3 innings (4 runs, 3 earned) after a wild first inning, highlighting his ability to settle in and still deliver a quality start. Finally, the show discusses prospect Didier Fuentes being scratched as part of workload/rotation planning and outlines scenarios where Atlanta could call him up for bullpen length or a spot start during a stretch without off days.

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The Braves swept the Phillies in Philadelphia for the first time in over a decade to take a five-game NL East lead, highlighted by big weekends from Michael Harris II and Austin Riley plus strong pitching (including Martín Pérez and Chris Sale), then the show previews a favorable series in Washington against a Nationals team with a strong offense but one of MLB’s worst pitching staffs and explains the new “Sole Survivor Day” concept tracking days when Atlanta wins and every other NL East team loses.

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On the off day, Lindsay Crosby explores the pros and cons of the Atlanta Braves giving a long-term extension to second-year catcher Drake Baldwin.

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The Braves beat the Marlins 6–3 to win the series, with Atlanta in control after building a 6–0 lead and Bryce Elder delivering 5 2/3 scoreless innings (0.77 ERA on the season) while generating all nine of his whiffs with a dominant, shape-manipulated slider that functioned like an extra pitch. Lindsay Crosby also breaks down how the NL East landscape is shifting, noting Atlanta’s 12–7 start, MLB-leading run production, and improved division odds as the Phillies (8–10, negative run differential) and Mets (7–12, eight-game skid) scuffle. The episode previews the upcoming series in Philadelphia with key pitching matchups, examines lineup depth differences, and discusses Braves roster reinforcements on the way, including Sean Murphy’s rehab and Spencer Strider’s planned rehab starts, plus potential moves involving Martín Pérez and bullpen/rotation roles.

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Lindsay Crosby recaps Atlanta’s 6–5 comeback win over Miami, highlighted by Dom Smith’s bases-clearing three-run double in the eighth and his continuing early-season impact after an opening-weekend walk-off grand slam. Crosby argues Smith must stay in the lineup against right-handed pitching and discusses how playing time could shake out when Sean Murphy returns, likely pushing Jonah Heim off the roster while keeping Drake Baldwin’s bat involved. The episode also examines recent shaky innings from Grant Holmes and Reynaldo López as signs the Braves’ early elite pitching results may regress toward their underlying metrics, though the offense has been strong enough to cover. Finally, Crosby breaks down Miami’s aggressive stolen-base success, placing most responsibility on López’s slow time to the plate rather than Baldwin’s throwing.

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Lindsay Crosby breaks down two pressing Braves issues: unproductive left field play and a lack of dependable left-handed relief beyond Dylan Lee. Mike Yastrzemski's poor Statcast indicators and continued everyday usage are examined, while Eli White’s plantar fasciitis leaves Atlanta effectively short-handed and may necessitate an IL move and an outfield call-up from Gwinnett (Brewer Hicklen, DeShawn Keirsey Jr., Ben Gamel, or José Azocar). On the bullpen side, Crosby argues José Suarez isn’t the answer and details Aaron Bummer’s velocity drop, worsening location, altered pitch usage, and growing liability, while explaining why Dylan Dodd profiles better vs righties than lefties and noting Hayden Harris as a small-sample possibility—ultimately suggesting a trade-deadline lefty is needed. The episode also recaps the Braves’ 10–4 loss to Miami, Grant Holmes’ (apparently planned) short outing, bullpen damage, and why Holmes may fit best as a future swingman/reliever.

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The Braves win their series against the Guardians with a dominant finale, improving to the only MLB team yet to lose a series, while their season pitching metrics remain among the league’s best even though the offense drove this particular series win. Lindsay Crosby breaks down the three games, including Bryce Elder’s quick hook, Chris Sale’s traffic-filled outing, and Atlanta’s feast-or-famine offense. The episode tried to figure out why Atlanta DFA’d Martin Perez instead of Jose Suarez, focusing on waiver likelihood, stuff/projections, and roster flexibility, and how the move could clear a path to recall Didier Fuentes before option timing becomes an issue. It also outlines upcoming rotation scenarios with an off day and previews the Marlins series, noting Miami’s contact, speed, and one-run-game success, plus matchups featuring Eury Perez, Max Meyer, and Chris Paddack.

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Lindsay Crosby breaks down how the Braves’ strong offense is being propped up by overperformance from lower-order bats, focusing on Mauricio Dubón’s .333 BA, .918 OPS start and why his results may regress based on expected stats despite elite contact and a high squared-up rate. He contrasts that with underperforming stars like Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, and Michael Harris, and notes Drake Baldwin’s production closely matches his expected numbers. Crosby then examines the near-term decision on Didier Fuentes: whether to recall him soon to preserve an option year or keep him in AAA to develop a more complete mix, especially a reliable splitter, given heavy four-seam reliance and command concerns. Finally, he previews the Guardians series at Truist Park, emphasizing Cleveland’s strikeout-heavy pitching staff, solid bullpen, low-scoring profile, and lineup versatility.

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