Walt Weiss’ one bullpen decision and the Philadelphia Phillies’ two devastating swings suddenly turned the Atlanta Braves’ path to the NLDS into a winner-take-all nightmare. But more than anything, an injury scare involving the Braves’ dominant starter was what altered the momentum for them on Wednesday.
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For the first seven innings, Tyler Mahle was looking dominant, surrendering just one run. But Weiss turned to Dylan Lee in the eighth, and he was welcomed with back-to-back hits, flipping the game on its head. Now, with the Braves’ season hanging by a thread ahead of the decisive Game 3, Weiss addressed his decision and revealed what he expects from his team when everything is on the line.
“Mahle was done… We had a scare before the game. He felt an abdominal pull. We didn’t know if he was going to make the start… He’s not going back out there, probably under any circumstances. And it set up for Dylan Lee. I mean, that’s a perfect inning for Dylan Lee, and he took that inning down yesterday in a very similar scenario,” MLB Network quoted Weiss after Game 2.
The Braves started on a positive note on Wednesday, keeping a 3-1 lead till the seventh. Mahle allowed a double to Trea Turner. He also allowed an early RBI single to Bryce Harper, putting the Phillies up 1-0. He limited the damage by executing a rundown on Harper and striking out Brandon Marsh to end the frame.
After the shaky first, he completely settled in and dominated the Phillies’ dangerous lineup. After the Harper single, Mahle allowed only two more hits over six frames, shutting out Philadelphia and handing the Braves a 3-1 lead heading into the 8th inning. Things went down hereon.
Looking to protect a two-run cushion, Weiss turned to left-handed Lee to face the top of the Phillies’ order. Lee had pitched effectively in Game 1, posting 1 inning without a run and 1 strikeout.
However, on Wednesday, Schwarber launched a massive 447-foot solo home run to cut the deficit to one. Before Lee could recover, Harper followed suit, crushing a 418-foot solo shot to tie the game at 3-3. Lee managed only two outs while surrendering two earned runs on two hits. This has erased the brilliant foundation Mahle had built and shifted all momentum back to Philadelphia.
It was Alec Bohm’s homer in the tenth against Didier Fuentes that sealed the game.
The bullpen decision was complicated by Mahle’s injury, an abdominal pull reported right at game time. “It was right at game time after he came out of the bullpen,” Weiss added.
An abdominal pull was reported, although there’s no report of hitting the IL. However, just before the winner-takes-all Game 3, the Braves manager chose to stay optimistic.
The Braves are confident before Game 3
“When these two teams face off, this is usually the type of game. So tomorrow will be a similar trend. We will be fully prepared and play,” Weiss portrayed confidence before Game 3.
Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle starting the first 2 Wild Card games was expected. But the Braves are yet to decide on Game 3. “Grant Holmes would be lined up to pitch a bulk of the innings if there is a Game 3 tomorrow,” MLB.com’s Mark Bowman predicted a day back.
So, either Holmes will act as the primary starter or in a bulk relief role behind an opener in Game 3. With names like Reynaldo Lopez, Martin Perez, and Bryce Elder all unavailable with injuries, the Braves will start Game 3 without a primary starter.
The Braves manager may still be getting confidence from their 2021 World Series campaign.
During the 2021 World Series, Charlie Morton suffered a fractured leg in the second inning of Game 1. This has left the Braves with no traditional starting pitchers available in Game 4. They threw a pure bullpen game.
Reliever Dylan Lee made a surprise start, lasting only 0.1 innings, before a parade of six different bullpen arms put together the remaining 8.2 innings. The makeshift unit held the Astros to just two runs, allowing the Braves to win 3-2.
Let’s see if the Braves can replicate the same this time.