LEFTY SMYLY SENT TO BULLPEN AFTER ROUGH MONTH

The Braves are moving left-hander Drew Smyly to the bullpen for at least the next couple of days, manager Brian Snitker said during his pregame Zoom call Saturday.

It was rough August for Smyly, who posted a 6.08 ERA in five starts. The veteran surrendered seven home runs over his past two starts, including four in his latest outing at Dodger Stadium.

Smyly also has exhibited a velocity decline. Snitker suggested after the lefty’s most recent start that it could be because of his workload after Smyly logged only 26⅓ innings during the shortened 2020 campaign, but Smyly maintained he felt well physically. He’s pitched 115⅔ innings over 23 starts this season.

“If you ask him, I don’t think he’s concerned with innings,” Sni t ker said. “There’s probably a situation that may open up next week where we slide him in, too. As of right now, we’ll keep him in the bullpen for a couple days.”

Snitker implied the Braves could start Smyly next week, when they face the Nationals and Marlins to begin a 10-game homestand Tuesday. Letting Smyly face either of those two clubs at home makes more sense than starting him at homer-friendly Coors Field. But with a full rotation and off days Monday and Sept. 13, the Braves won’t have to start Smyly.

To finish the Colorado series, Ian Anderson was slated to start Saturday followed by Charlie Morton in the series finale. Max Fried, who last pitched the finale in Los Angeles on Wednesday, would be aligned to start the series opener Tuesday

against the Nationals with an extra day of rest thanks to Monday’s off day.

Some rotation maneuvering was inevitable this month. The Braves were using a sixman group that included Fried, Morton, Anderson, Huascar Ynoa, Touki Toussaint and Smyly. As Smyly’s troubles mounted, it became easier to see him shifted into the bullpen, even if it’s on a temporary basis. For now, Smyly gives the Braves another reliever capable of covering multiple innings.

Smyly, 32, signed a one- year, $11 million deal with the Braves last offseason. He’s scheduled to be a free agent this winter.

Other Braves notes from Saturday:

■ If it feels as if the Braves have played an exhausting number of one-run games, that’s because they have.

After losing 4-3 to Colorado on Friday, the Braves have played 47 one-run games this season. It was their fourth consecutive one-run game, a stretch in which they’ve gone 1-3 against the Dodg- ers and Rockies.

Only the Mets have played more one-run games (52) than the Braves, who are now 22-25 in such contests. The Braves’ results in those games rank second-worst in the majors behind the White Sox (13-20).

The Braves’ franchise record is 60 one-run games, set in 1988. These Braves have 29 games remaining.

■ The Braves entered Saturday with a two-game lead over the Phillies in the National League East, along

with a four-game lead over the Mets. Regardless of Satur- day’s results, the Braves will enter Sept. 5 in first place.

The latest a Braves team with sole possession of first place has lost the division is Sept. 6, when the 2010 Braves held a half-game lead and ultimately lost the East to the Phillies. These Braves will try to avoid a similar fate in what’s shaping up to be a memorable finish in the division.

■ Adam Duvall has made three starts in center field, where he’s drawn rave reviews. As Snitker continues mixing and matching his newly redesigned outfield, expect to see more of Duvall in the middle.

“He’s just a good outfielder,” Snitker said. “Good instincts. The arm plays. Very versatile guy, very athletic.”

Duvall’s bat is a difference maker. He slugged his 30th home run Thursday, which was his eighth since rejoining the Braves on July 30.

MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/AP Drew Smyly yielded seven home runs in his past two starts, including four in his latest outing at Dodger Stadium. He had a 6.08 ERA in five August starts.