Fried is Good

 

The most consecutive amount of games the Braves have lost this season is four. They've had four of those four-game losing streaks. But the one that just elapsed may have been the most concerning.

Those other streaks were close games, not blowouts by any means. This time, the Braves gave up 36 runs over a 3-game series against the Marlins, then got blown out 1-7 by the Phillies. That's 41 runs in four games they gave up. Some of those other streaks had them only giving up 35, 19 or 18 runs. But 41, and against division rivals also looking at postseason positions, right before a playoff season you were guaranteed a spot in months ago essentially...that's not comforting.

I've discussed this on here, but the expanded playoff picture is much tougher on the teams that dominate during the regular season, because they have more chances for that momentum to lessen. This is why the Dodgers, as incredible as they were last year, flamed out in the NLDS, and the scrappier teams like the Padres and Phillies made it to the NLCS. The Braves have to be fearing that right now, because if this was the 80s or something, they'd play a series against the Phillies, then a series against the Dodgers, and then they'd be in the World Series. But now there's more of a chance that somebody else gets hot right when they all begin to get tired.

And yes, it is a lot to ask for this Braves team to all go cold at once, but you're already seeing Charlie Morton have more human starts, and you already have Kyle Wright not to his 2022 standard. If the Marlins had no trouble with those guys, who knows what the bigger teams will do to the guys that are good. Max Fried has been excellent since activation, 7-1 and a 2.64 ERA in 14 starts. Spencer Strider's having a season that might be more of a Cy Young statement if Blake Snell and Justin Steele didn't exist, with 18 wins, 270 strikeouts and a 1.063 WHIP. There is a chance he even makes it to 20 wins. Or even 300 Ks. Unlikely, yes, but not impossible. And what's more, he seems to be doing all this without screwing up his throwing arm. Bryce Elder's 12-4 with a 3.63 ERA. All three of those guys are excellent right now, and yet I just worry that somebody will have figured them all out before October. 

I could be very wrong, and the Braves could waltz to the end, but recent baseball seasons have made me wary of a alpha-type team [that Manfred doesn't have a subconscious bias for] making it to the World Series again. I want it to happen, because the Braves deserve to see a team like this, and hitters like Acuna, Olson, Albies and Riley, make it all the way. But I'm not sure if somebody a bit luckier will beat them to it or not.

Coming Tonight: A lot like his team, he caught fire late and proved he was worthy of the easy exposure.