A New Look for the Wild Card
The Atlanta Braves are not playing it safe. With the playoffs here, the lineup is moving around like a puzzle. Some spots stay the same, but other stars are jumping to new spots to find an edge.
According to Battery Power, Walt Weiss leaned on hitters’ previous results against Cristopher Sánchez whne constructing the Game 2 lineup. They want to exploit the specific history these hitters have against Cristopher Sánchez. It is a smart, aggressive way to play.
The numbers back this up. Ronald Acuña Jr. holds a 1.000 OPS against Sánchez in sixteen ABs. Ozzie Albies is even more dangerous. Albies has a .500 average and a 1.193 OPS in eighteen ABs against him. Austin Riley also has a 1.104 OPS in fifteen ABs. These are big numbers that you cannot ignore.
The Big Shifts in the Order
The changes might look strange at first glance. Michael Harris II is dropping from fifth to seventh in the order. This is a huge drop for a core player. Harris holds a .321 OPS versus Sánchez across fifteen ABs, making the decision logical.
Other moves are just as big. Acuña moves up to leadoff. Austin Riley moves from seventh to sixth. Matt Olson is sliding down to fourth. Even Ozzie Albies is moving from sixth to third. It is a total overhaul of the top of the order.
The roster itself has some new faces too. MLB.com Braves stated that Rowdy Tellez and Luke Williams are being promoted from Triple-A for the Wild Card Series. Tellez will serve as a left-handed pinch-hitting option. Williams adds extra depth to the infield. The team is also carrying players like DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Brewer Hicklen in the outfield.
Why This Strategy Could Win
I love this approach. Baseball is about matchups. If you have a hitter who destroys a specific pitcher, you put him in a spot to see that pitcher as much as possible. Moving Harris down might feel wrong, but the stats say it is the right call. You cannot let a low OPS drag down the middle of your order.
The Braves offense has been inconsistent all year. They have been hot and cold. Using a strategy that targets the starter is the best way to find stability. If the Braves can get to the bullpen early, they have a real shot. The team leads MLB in wRC+ in the ninth inning. That late-game power is a scary thought for any manager.
Mahle delivered seven innings of one-run baseball in Game 2, but Atlanta llst 4-3 in 10 innings. The series is now tied 1-1, with Grant Holmes expected to. hand the bulk of Game 3.
The Phillies will also use different lineups because of the pitching. Brandon Marsh and Justin Crawford are both starting for Philadelphia.
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