As the dust settles from the Braves’ Game 5 loss, it shouldn’t be forgotten they still have the upper hand in the World Series.
The Braves returned to Houston leading the Fall Classic, 3-2. We’ve seen enough of this team to know Game 5 – in which a four-run lead was lost within a half hour en route to a 9-5 defeat at home – certainly won’t demoralize it.
As disappointing as Sunday was, the Braves are still one win from planning a parade.
“We’re in a really good spot,” said reliever A.J. Minter, who endured a rare poor outing in Sunday’s loss. “We’re up 3-2, going back to Houston. If you told us that at the beginning of the series, we’d be happy with that.”
Charlie Morton’s injury was the dark cloud above Game 5. Morton broke his leg in Game 1, ending his season. His replacement, Tucker Davidson, started a bullpen game Sunday, giving up four runs (two unearned due to shortstop Dansby Swanson’s error) as the Braves’ early lead evaporated.
It was a tough ask to win consecutive bullpen games. The Braves won Game 4 thanks to late homers by Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler, along with a group of relievers that held the Astros to two runs. Houston responded with nine runs on 12 hits in Game 5 to stay alive.
“I’m glad we split (the two bullpen games),” manager Brian Snitker said. “I knew it was going to be a rough spot having to do that, but it is what it is. We hated losing Charlie, obviously, but we survived the two bullpen games. Now after (Sunday), the day off (Monday), we’re in good shape now going forward.”
The Braves consider themselves in good shape because of starters Max Fried and Ian Anderson, plus their rested key relievers.
Despite Fried’s shaky recent results, he’s the staff ace who’s already one of the most experienced postseason pitchers in Braves history. He didn’t pitch well in Houston during his first start, though some of it went beyond his responsibility, but the Braves will like their chances with Fried against an Astros lineup with which he’s a bit more familiar.
They expect to see the lefty who led the majors with a 1.74 ERA in the second half.
“I think he’s been off a little bit the last couple times, hasn’t been himself,” Snitker said. “I expect to see Max on top of his game (Tuesday). I expect that every time he goes out. I mean, this guy, since the All-Star break, is one of the best pitchers in the game.”
The Astros are bringing back Luis Garcia on short rest, then they’ll lean heavily on their bullpen, a recurring theme of this odd postseason. If the Astros take Game 6, the Braves will have one more chance to close it out with Anderson, who pitched five no-hit innings in Game 3. Houston’s pitching plans for a Game 7 are unclear.
However long the series goes, the Braves will rely on Tyler Matzek, Luke Jackson and Will Smith in the later innings, as they have the entire postseason. The trio has covered 32-1/3 innings this postseason. Matzek has allowed three runs over a franchise-record 12 postseason appearances. Jackson allowed a run in only two of his 11 outings. Smith has a 0.00 ERA in 10 appearances.
In Game 6 and (potentially) Game 7, the Braves won’t be leaning on Jesse Chavez, Drew Smyly and Tucker Davidson to cover innings. Their best pitchers, the ones who guided them to this point, will be rested and ready. That, along with knowing what to expect after playing two prior games in Houston, has the Braves feeling confident with the championship on the line.
“We’re going to a familiar place now,” Snitker said. “I thought they handled it really good the first go-round, and I think because we’ve been there now and (learned) the whole routine and all that, none of that will be a distraction at all.”
