On Sept. 18 one year ago, the Braves lost their fourth game in a row. It was of little consequence – they’d already pulled away in the National League East, and they’d clinch not long afterwards.
Such is playing out again in 2019. The Braves dropped a 4-1 contest to the Phillies on Wednesday evening, their third consecutive loss and second in a row to open their final homestand. Winning the NL East is an inevitability, but the Braves aren't sealing the deal before Friday.
For the first time since July 23-24 against the Royals, the Braves lost a series. They’ve gone 11-0-4 in their last 15 series before the Phillies took the first two of this three-game set. The Braves’ 15 consecutive non-losing series was the longest streak in the majors this season. This marked their first home series loss against the Phillies in over two years (Aug. 8-9, 2017).
The Nationals lost earlier in the afternoon, positioning the Braves to perhaps celebrate the same way they did last season. They needed consecutive home wins over the Phillies – they took three in a row over them to finish the race last year – to cut the magic number to zero.
But for the second time in as many nights, the Braves vaunted offense couldn’t punish the Phillies’ pitching, producing just five singles. Ronald Acuna might be pressing with 40-40 on the horizon. Freddie Freeman has gone silent with the bat. Josh Donaldson, a night after staring at a critical strike three, was nowhere to be found.
It’s going to happen. As great as the offense is, they aren’t going to hit every night. Maybe the Braves will benefit from resting some regulars once the division is officially wrapped up (though Freeman insists he wants to continue playing every day, and Donaldson and Acuna won’t disagree). Perhaps formally securing the division will allow them to think more freely in preparation of October.
Zach Eflin tossed seven innings, permitting one unearned run. The Braves have scored five runs in the last 18 innings against the Phillies. Counting Sunday’s game in Washington, they’ve scored five runs in their last 27 frames.
“That guy tonight probably felt like he had something to prove against us after last time,” manager Brian Snitker said, referencing the Braves chasing Eflin after 3-2/3 innings five days ago. “And he did a really good job. And their bullpen has been really good this series so far. There are reasons a lot of times (for an offense to struggle). There are stretches sometimes.”
On the other end, Julio Teheran surrendered a pair of homers, including the go-ahead two-run shot from familiar nemesis Bryce Harper. The former MVP hit his ninth homer in 47 at-bats against Teheran, his most homers off any pitcher and the most long balls Teheran has permitted against one hitter.
Teheran wasn’t fooling the Phillies, generating three swinging strikes on 73 fastballs with minimal help from his curveball and slider. He’s lost consecutive starts for the first time since June 18 and 24.
The right-hander has posted solid on-the-surface numbers, but his advanced metrics suggest he’s vastly outperformed his expected value. In his past two starts, both against the Phillies, he’s allowed eight earned runs across nine innings.
“The one before I didn’t have my fastball command,” Teheran said. “Today, I started really good because of my fastball but I made too many mistakes. … I made too many mistakes that made a difference in the game.”
That’s been the theme with Braves starters lately. One inning, a couple untimely miscues, derailing an otherwise solid start. It happened with Dallas Keuchel a night ago, when a five-run fourth spoiled his night.
Soon the team will assemble its postseason rotation, a decision that isn’t getting easier with each errant start. Teheran will have one more outing in the regular season.
The Braves will try to avoid being swept Thursday afternoon. Aces Mike Soroka and Aaron Nola will face off in the Braves and Phillies' final meeting this season. The Nationals are off, meaning a Braves win would cut their magic number to one, but they cannot clinch Thursday.
