Adam Duvall’s 2020 season ended Monday night when he suffered a strained left oblique muscle in the Braves' 5-1 win over the Dodgers in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. The outfielder was removed from the roster Tuesday and replaced by utilityman Johan Camargo.
Duvall hurt himself while swinging in the second inning. He exited the game and was replaced by rookie Cristian Pache, whose importance increases in Duvall’s absence. Duvall will be ineligible for the World Series roster if the Braves advance.
“I just text with (Duvall) a little bit ago, he’s hurting,” manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s really sore. He’s not going to be at the ballpark today, but I think he’ll probably come get treatment tomorrow. He’s hurt. And to not be able to be here with the guys and see this thing through. I hate it for him because he’s such a great kid and he works so hard. It’s a tough injury for him.”
After a trying one-and-a-half seasons with the organization, Duvall became an important contributor to one of baseball’s best offenses. He hit 16 homers with 33 RBIs for the Braves, including two three-homer games in the span of eight days. He became the only player in franchise history with two three-homer games.
Credit: Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com
Credit: Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com
Duvall was 2-for-20 this postseason, though one of his hits was a two-run homer in the Braves' Game 2 series-clinching win over the Reds in the wild-card round.
Camargo, who hasn’t played since Sept. 5, gives the Braves additional versatility. If third baseman Austin Riley shifts to left field again, as he did Monday, Camargo and Pablo Sandoval could handle third base. Pache started in center for Game 2, and the Braves stuck with Riley at third against Dodgers righty Tony Gonsolin, who replaced Clayton Kershaw after the three-time Cy Young winner was scratched with back spasms. If the Braves faced Kershaw, Camargo would’ve started at third and Riley would’ve been in left, Snitker said.
Notes from Tuesday:
- The unexpected switch from Kershaw to Gonsolin won’t affect the Braves much, Snitker said. They already were preparing to face Gonsolin at some point, it just came earlier than anticipated. Kershaw, meanwhile, still is expected to pitch later in the series.
- “The defensive prowess he brings is why he’s a good option,” Snitker said of starting Pache. The 21-year-old went 0-for-1 and walked twice Monday in his first plate appearances since Aug. 22. Without Duvall, Pache will be important during the rest of the Braves' run, especially if they continue to start him in the cavernous Globe Life outfield.
- Sandoval appeared in only his second game with the Braves on Monday. After signing a minor-league deal in mid-September, Sandoval spent two weeks working out in Gwinnett before joining the Braves for the regular-season finale. The former World Series MVP made his Braves postseason debut in Game 1, getting hit by a pitch in his lone plate appearance.
“This team is going to be special for many years," Sandoval said, lauding the Braves' youth and veteran mix. “It reminds me of those three championships we had (in San Francisco). ... You come in and see these guys in the lineup are 21 through 23 (Acuna, Riley, Albies, Pache), that’s going to make it special.”
On Acuna specifically, Sandoval said: “Ronald is a special kid. A really talented kid. I call him a six-tool player because he can run, throw, hit for power, hit for average, (field) and have fun in a game. That’s one thing I love about him. No matter what situation. He can be 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and still have fun in a game. That’s one of the things that will make you special."
