The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Soggy, sloppy loss ends series
Anderson turns in another strong effort for Atlanta.
In a rain-delayed, raindrenched affair, Ian Ander- son pitched 5⅔ innings, allowing three runs — none earned — as the Braves (3423) lost to the Marlins at Truist Park. Here’s the recap:
The details
In a game where the rain grew so vicious that Ronald Acuna Jr. alm st missed a fly ball in center field, he Braves committed four errors. Third baseman Adeiny Hechavarria (twice), shortstop Dansby Swan- son and second baseman Ozzie Albies all commit- ted errors with Anderson on the mound. The Marlins scored three unearned runs in the sixth inning.
At the plate On the mound Notable
otThe Braves managed just six hits. Swanson’s two-run single in the eighth inning accounted for the runs.
Anderson allowed seven hits and struck out three. The 22-year-old has made six starts, earning a 1.95 ERA in 32⅓ innings. He notably posted a 41:14 strikeout-towalk ratio.
■ The scheduled 7:10 p.m. start game didn’t begin until 8:45 p.m.
■ Anderson was lifted at 104 pitches — a good number considering he won’t pitch again for a week. He is scheduled to pitch Game 2 of the first-round playoff series.
■ The Braves would’ve clinched the National League’s No. 2 seed with a victory. Instead, they’re one win or Cubs’ loss away from securing the second spot.
Quotable
“I feel real confident about him. Just the way he’s handled all the different situations that have been put in front of him. I feel really good about him starting that second game.” — Braves manager Brian Snitker on Anderson
Next
The Braves start a three- game weekend series with the Red Sox to end the regular season. Go to AJC.com for a complete report of Friday’s game.
The Braves haven’t set their rotation for the bestof-three wild-card round next week, but it’s expected to be Max Fried, Ian Anderson and Kyle Wright, in that order.
“As of right now, that’s the way it’s pointed,” manager Brian Snitker said Friday afternoon. “We haven’t named a rotation yet for the playoffs. We’ll meet over that probably Monday morning, Monday afternoon, and come up with a plan.”
It’s not exactly a well-kept secret. The Braves aren’t overflowing with options, and for the past two weeks, they’ve consistently stressed faith in that trio.
Fried pitched two days ago, leaving after one inning because of a tweaked ankle. The Braves expect their Cy Young contender will be good to go for Game 1, which will take place Wednesday at Truist Park. Ian Anderson, with six career starts under his belt, will follow Fried in what will be either a poten- tial clinching game or a winor-go-home contest.
“I feel really good about him starting that second game,” Snitker said after Anderson’s start Thursday. Anderson went 5⅔ innings, allowing three unearned runs. He was hurt by a defense that committed four errors, but the 22-year-old again looked like a player mature beyond his years.
Wright was set for his last start Friday night against the Red Sox, his final tune-up before potentially pitching a winner-take-all Game 3. Wright has looked improved since returning from a stint at the alternate training site. In his last start, he held the Mets to one hit over 6⅓ scoreless innings.
Snitker reiterated confi- dence in Wright before Fri
Full coverage of Friday night’s game against the Red Sox at AJC.com day’s outing. And yes, the Braves have little choice but to place their faith in the unproven Anderson and Wright. But both have given them reason to believe recently.
When the regular season concludes Sunday, the Braves will know their first postseason opponent. That team will travel to Truist Park for a best-of-three Wednesday through Friday. After two months of rotation changes, uncertainties and endless stress, the Braves believe they’ve found a reli- able trio in Fried, Anderson and Wright.
Other notes from Friday:
■ The Braves’ magic number to clinch the National League’s No. 2 seed was one going into Friday night. They need none win or one Cubs’ loss in the final three games. If they’re the 2-seed, they’ll host the 7-seed next week. The race is close enough that the Braves might not know their opponent until after Sunday’s games.
■ MVP candidate Fred- die Freeman was out of the Braves’ starting lineup for a rest day. Austin Riley started at first base. Freeman has played in every game this season and was available as a pinch-hitter.
■ The Braves haven’t announced their starter for tonight. “We’ll just wait and see how today goes,” Snitker said, indicating it could be another bullpen game. Huas- car Ynoa, who’s started five games, was available out of the bullpen Friday.
■ On this weekend’s final series, Snitker said: “We want to go out and win the series again. That’s been our goal from the get-go. We have our pitching plan, which we’re afforded (by clinching). The options are really good, and there are guys who need to get work. I’m excited to see Kyle and how far he can take us tonight.”
■ The Braves swept the Red Sox in Boston, outscoring them 23-11, this season. Marcell Ozuna and Adam Duvall provided back-to-back three-homer games, which was one of many memorable offensive sequences for this Braves team.
Entering Friday, the Braves led MLB with 337 runs scored. They haven’t led the National League since 2003, when they scored 907 runs, and haven’t paced MLB in that area since 1973 (799).
■ Boston entered the series with a 22-35 record, third-worst in MLB. The Red Sox have already lost out on the Kumar Rocker sweepstakes, however. The Pirates are one game worse (or better?) than the Rangers in the “tankathon” for the No. 1 pick, which is expected to be the highly regarded Rocker, a Vanderbilt righthander who played at North Oconee High.
■ For those who like random stats and occurrences: This is only the second time the Braves will finish the regular season against an Ameri- can League club. They ended the 2016 season — in the final series at Turner Field — by taking two of three from the Tigers. Under the original 2020 schedule, the Braves also would’ve finished the regular season against an AL foe, hosting the Astros for three.
Braves legend Hank Aaron and baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Thursday night helped unveil the official logo of next season’s MLB All-Star Game, which will be played at Truist Park.
The reveal came in a digital ceremony televised on Fox Sports Southeast just before the start of the Braves’ rain-delayed game against the Miami Marlins.
“I can’t wait for the 2021 All-Star game here in Atlanta,” Aaron said. “And here we go ...”
With that, the logo was revealed.
Next year’s event, scheduled for July 13, will mark the third time the Braves have hosted the All-Star Game since moving to Atlanta in 1966. They hosted the game at Atlanta Stadium (later renamed Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium) in 1972 and at Turner Field in 2000.
“Major League Baseball is eager for the return of the All-Star Game and for the opportunity to put one of the game’s great new ballparks on a worldwide stage,” Manfred said. “Tonight marks the start of an exciting journey for the Braves’ organization and its fans as our sport prepares for a thrilling postsea- son and for a successful All
Star week next summer.”
The 2020 All-Star Game, scheduled for Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The 2021 game was awarded to Truist Park last year. Dodger Stadium will host the 2022 game.
MLB officially announced Thursday night the previously reported news that the sport’s amateur draft, conducted during the month of June every year since its inception in 1965, will be moved to July 11-13 next year and will be held as part of the All-Star festivities in Atlanta.
The draft will have a minimum of 20 rounds across three days. It will start following the July 11 All-Star Futures game at Truist Park.
“We are pleased to make our draft the newest part of 2021 All-Star Week festivities in Atlanta,” Manfred said. “The All-Star Game is a celebration of baseball, and the draft will highlight the amateur levels of our great game and its future stars.”