SAN FRANCISCO - The Braves in extra innings have an offense as lackluster as any seen in the South since Jim McElwain roamed the sidelines at Florida.
After consecutive extra-inning losses, the Braves have further lowered their production in the additional frames. In Wednesday’s defeat, the Braves went quietly in the 10th outside a hit by pitch. On Friday in San Francisco, the Braves went 0-for-6 over the two extra innings, failing to advance the placed base runner to third.
In 13 extra-inning games, the Braves’ offense is 7-for-49 (.143). That number looks even worse in context: The Braves had three extra-inning hits in their wild win over the Phillies on May 8. So they have four of them across their other extra-inning games.
“I don’t know, there isn’t any explaining it,” manager Brian Snitker said.
Commissioner Rob Manfred’s controversial extra-innings rule was meant to speed along the games. But the Braves haven’t taken advantage of the placed runner. It starts in the 10th inning, where the Braves are 2-for-37 (.054). That includes Joc Pederson’s game-winning single against the Nationals last week.
All in all, the Braves are fortunate to have a 4-9 record in extra-inning games. But as October draws near, the team’s production and approach in those innings remains a concern. If the Braves make the postseason, those situations – be it a runner at second with none out or just the intensity and urgency of those frames – will assume even more importance.
Braves notes:
- It’s not just extras: The Braves are 3-for-21 with runners in scoring position over their past two games (22 innings), both one-run losses in extras. The Phillies won both their games in that time and entered Saturday two games behind the Braves in the National League East.
- The Braves have 29 one-run losses this season, second most in the majors behind only the Mets (32), who suffered a one-run loss to the Phillies on Friday.
- Braves reliever Luke Jackson, who’s been on the paternity list, was set to rejoined the club late Saturday night, manager Brian Snitker said. Jackson is expected to be available Sunday.
Jackson struck out the side in his latest appearance Sept. 15, continuing a season in which he’s been one of the majors’ best relievers. The righty has a 2.09 ERA in 63 games, holding opponents to a .207 average.
- The Braves haven’t said what they’ll do when the fifth starter spot is needed during the upcoming series in Arizona. “We’ll see how we get there,” Snitker said. The team could turn back to lefty Drew Smyly, who was bumped to the bullpen after a rough August. Touki Toussaint’s shaky performance lately has the Braves considering other options.
- Veteran reliever Josh Tomlin began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday. He allowed three runs on four hits across three innings against Nashville. Tomlin, 36, has been on the injured list since Aug. 31 with a strained neck.
- Chris Martin, another experienced reliever in the Braves’ bullpen, returned this week from an IL stint and pitched Friday. He pitched a scoreless seventh, surrendering a two-out double to Mike Yastrzemski before escaping the threat by striking out Darin Ruf.
It was Martin’s first appearance since Sept. 1, when he was charged a run on two hits in a loss to the Dodgers and was placed on the IL with elbow inflammation the next day.
