The Braves haven’t set concrete plans for their rotation ahead of the National League Championship Series, manager Brian Snitker said Thursday during the team’s workout at Truist Park.
Left-hander Max Fried is slated to be the Game 1 starter against either the Giants or Dodgers, whomever wins the winner-take-all in San Francisco on Thursday night. But the rest of the rotation is to be determined.
Charlie Morton started Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Brewers, then returned on short rest and pitched 3-1/3 innings in the clinching Game 4. While Morton could still start Game 2 of the NLCS, Snitker said the team has discussed perhaps starting him in Game 3 instead, giving him more time. Game 3 is Tuesday.
Snitker also said the Braves will “probably” deploy a bullpen game sometime during the series. “We’ll probably have a bullpen game. With that being said, like this (past series), we have two starters in our bullpen (Huascar Ynoa and Drew Smyly), so I think we’ll be fine.”
Braves notes:
- The Braves are preparing to play without slugger Jorge Soler, who tested positive for COVID-19 just before Game 4 on Tuesday. Soler, their leadoff hitter, was 1-for-11 in the NLDS with a double. But he’s been an important part of the Braves’ reconstructed outfield.
“I don’t know if he’ll be here for the NLCS,” Snitker said. “That’s how we have to approach it. Until he shows up, he’s cleared and does everything MLB needs him to do, I have to look at it like he’s not going to be here.”
- Shortstop Dansby Swanson hit leadoff in Soler’s absence Tuesday, ripping a double in his first at-bat. Snitker didn’t commit to keeping Swanson atop the lineup, saying it could depend on matchups, but he acknowledged that’s “probably the most logical scenario.”
- The Braves played in Los Angeles and San Francisco last month. They were swept at Dodger Stadium, which has been a house of horrors for them in recent years. They prevented a sweep in San Francisco with a win in the series finale (in which outfielder Eddie Rosario hit for the cycle). The Braves took two of three from the Dodgers and Giants at Truist Park this season.
