Danielle: You just fouled a ball off your leg in the third inning against the Reds, you’re day-to-day with a contusion, and now you have to go back out there tonight. That is the reality for Ronald Acuña Jr. as we look ahead to Game 2 of this series.
Eric: It’s a tough break, Danielle. The X-rays were clean, no serious damage, but you lose your MVP-caliber spark plug for potentially crucial innings. And let’s not forget, the Braves just got blanked 4-0 last night by Elly De La Cruz and Brandon Williamson.
Danielle: Right. So we are coming off a zero-offensive output, dealing with a banged-up rotation with Bryce Elder and Reynaldo Lopez on the IL, and a bullpen that is missing Robert Suarez and Joe Jimenez to the 60-day list. Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network, I’m Danielle Van Valen.
Eric: And I’m Eric Karabell. We’ve got the Atlanta Braves, sitting first in the NL East at 92-65 under first-year manager Walt Weiss, looking to bounce back from Tuesday’s loss and avoid a sweep against the Cincinnati Reds. Ava, what are we diving into today?
Ava: We’ll start with the pitching matchup and who might take the mound for Atlanta given the injury list. Then we’ll break down the offensive struggles against De La Cruz and how the Braves can adjust their lineup. Finally, we’ll give you our bold predictions for tonight’s game.
Danielle: Let’s jump right into Segment One: the pitching. Last night was a disaster for the Braves' offense, but defensively, they had to hold it together. Chris Sale has been the ace all year, but he’s not starting tonight. Who is in the rotation for Atlanta?
Eric: That’s the million-dollar question. The official probable hasn’t been fully locked in with the late scratches, but looking at the roster, we have Tyler Mahle, Grant Holmes, Martin Perez, JR Ritchie, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Owen Murphy available. Given the urgency, I’d expect either Mahle or Perez to get the call.
Danielle: Martin Perez started the opener and we talked about him yesterday. He’s been solid, but can he handle the pressure after that 4-0 shutout? The Reds’ Elly De La Cruz is closing in on a 30-30 season, which means he’s hitting with power AND speed. That changes how you pitch to him.
Eric: Exactly. De La Cruz isn’t just stealing bases; he’s driving in runs. Brandon Williamson threw six sharp innings last night, so the Reds aren’t panicking. For the Braves, if they send out Perez, he needs to keep the ball in the park. You can’t afford to give up extra-base hits to a player like that.
Danielle: What about the bullpen? We know Robert Suarez and Joe Jimenez are out for the season on the 60-day IL. Ray Kerr and Dylan Lee are there, but Raisel Iglesias is the closer. If the game gets tight, do you trust Iglesias to close it out tonight?
Eric: Iglesias is reliable, but the depth is thin. With Tony Santillan also on the IL, you’re relying heavily on the lefties like Didier Fuentes and Victor Mederos. It’s a gamble. If the Reds load up on left-handed hitters, that’s when you worry. But for now, Iglesias is still the guy.
Danielle: So, we’re looking at a pitching battle where Atlanta needs to be sharper than they were last night. If the starter can’t contain De La Cruz early, the bullpen could get stretched. Let’s move to Segment Two: the offense and the injuries.
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Eric: Thanks for listening. Now, back to the lineup. Without Acuña, who steps up? Matt Olson and Austin Riley are the heart of this order. They need to produce if they want to avoid another shutout loss.
Danielle: Olson has been consistent, but Riley has been struggling a bit lately. Do you think Michael Harris II needs to see more at-bats? Or maybe Brewer Hicklen gets a shot in right field while Acuña rests?
Eric: Hicklen is an option, but Harris II provides better contact skills. The key here is plate discipline. Against Williamson, you can’t chase sliders low. The Braves struck out too much last night. They need to shorten up and put the ball in play.
Danielle: And what about Ozzie Albies and Ha-Seong Kim? Their speed on the bases is critical. If they can get on base, they create chaos for the Reds’ defense. It’s not just about home runs anymore; it’s about manufacturing runs.
Eric: Absolutely. And don’t forget the DH spot. Kyle Farmer or Dominic Smith? Smith has more pop, but Farmer is safer defensively. Given the stakes, I’d lean toward Smith to maximize offense. You need every run you can get against a team that just shut you out.
Danielle: So, the plan is: keep the core intact, use Smith at DH, and hope Acuña’s contusion doesn’t worsen. If he’s day-to-day, he might return later in the week, but tonight could be tricky. Let’s head to Segment Three: keys to the series.
Eric: The biggest key for Atlanta is defensive positioning. De La Cruz pulls the ball hard. You need to shift slightly to the right side. If you leave gaps, he’ll exploit them. It’s small details that win games in September.
Danielle: I agree. And mentally, the Braves need to reset. They just lost 4-0. That’s a bruising result. But they clinched the division already. There’s no panic, but there is pride. They want to send a message to the rest of the league.
Eric: Pride is good, but execution is better. If they can score even three runs, they can win. The Reds are a .500 team roughly, 72-84. They’re not invincible. The Braves are the better team on paper.
Danielle: So, my prediction: The Braves wake up. Olson goes deep, Harris gets a hit, and they win 5-2. What about you, Eric?
Eric: I’m going bolder. I think the Braves’ pitching holds De La Cruz in check, and the bullpen closes it out. I predict a 6-1 Braves victory. We said sweep before, and we’re sticking with it.
Danielle: There you have it! A Braves comeback story brewing tonight. Make sure to tune in for the post-game reaction. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the Beatline Podcast Network wherever you listen.
Eric: And share this episode with a fellow Braves fan. We’ll see you after the game. Go Braves!