The Atlanta Braves are done.
After 104 regular-season wins, the most prolific offense in MLB history is on the plane back to Atlanta after a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Ranger Suarez and a plucky Phillies bullpen. What a series for the Phillies, and what a letdown for the Braves — the once-consensus favorites to win their second World Series in three years.
The entire team deserves blame. Baseball is a collective effort. Atlanta's powerful bats went cold at the wrong time and the Phillies jacked 11 home runs in four games. That is unfathomable. Still, Game 4 gave us four Braves to single out for particularly costly mistakes.
Let's blame some Braves for the last time in 2023.
Brian Snitker got out-coached under the bright lights of CBP
It will be fascinating to see how the Braves approach Brian Snitker's job security after back-to-back NLDS losses to Philadelphia. Rob Thomson left Snitker in the dirt in this game, perfectly orchestrating his bullpen while Snitker fumbled his lineup and ended the night with much-maligned sophomore Vaughn Grissom at the plate with the game on the line.
Why was Kevin Pillar getting the start in left field? Why did it take until the top of the ninth for 2021 NLCS hero Eddie Rosario to hit the field? Spencer Strider is one of the best arms in the sport, but he stuck around too long — long enough to give up a third home run.
This was not a perfect performance from the Phillies, who took a calculated (and ultimately successful) risk to burn their best relievers in the sixth and seventh innings. The Braves could not take advantage.
Snitker can't be blamed for his best players not showing up. Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and Marcell Ozuna all blew golden opportunities at the plate. But, it's a manager's job to shoulder the brunt of the criticism when his team falls apart on the biggest stage. Especially when it's clear the opposing manager had his number.
Kevin Pillar and Ronald Acuña Jr. left Braves high and dry
Bottom of the seventh inning. The Braves have the bases loaded, two outs. Ronald Acuña Jr., the presumptive National League MVP, steps to the plate with Kevin Pillar on third base. What a spot for Acuña to deliver a historic moment amid a historic season.
'Twas not to be.
First, Craig Kimbrel made a rare goof and tossed an errant pitch. It got past J.T. Realmuto and hit the backstop. Kimbrel was slow to process the situation and wasn't even halfway to home plate when Pillar record-scratched on his run home, deciding to turn back to third base instead of converting on a free opportunity to trim the Phillies' lead to one.
A brutal, game-changing mistake.
Acuña then smacked a ball to deep left-center. Phillies rookie Johan Rojas made a spectacular catch and the inning was over — Philadelphia somehow unscathed. It's hard to fault Acuña for a well-hit ball to the outfield, but he's the MVP. He has to come through in that moment and he couldn't.
He ended the night 0-for-4. That won't cut it for the MVP in an elimination game.
Spencer Strider gives up three dingers in high-stress environment
Spencer Strider is a beautiful pitcher. His tight windup, the nasty 100-MPH heat, the killer stache. There aren't many pitchers more pleasing to watch.
For long stretches of Game 4, Strider was Strider. He kept the top of the Phillies' lineup guessing with blistering heaters and well-timed changeups. He kept his slider under control... except for a few he left hanging, which Nick Castellanos and Trea Turner took advantage of.
Then, in the sixth inning, Casty got all of a 100-MPH fastball for his second home run of the night (and his fourth in two games) to give the Phillies' their third and final run. Strider went to the dugout yelling into his glove in frustration.
It wasn't the worst imaginable performance from Strider, but when the offense freezes up, it falls on the Cy Young candidate to not give up three home runs. Strider left a couple sliders hanging at the worst possible moment. That makes him part of the blame game for tonight's loss.
The Braves' terrible offense will be the storyline tonight. After setting the MLB record for single season slugging percentage, Atlanta's best bats froze (with the exception of Austin Riley, whose clutch dinger went unreciprocated by his teammates). But the second part of the storyline is Philadelphia's remarkable home run streak, which Strider will forever be a part of.
