The Atlanta Braves suffered an embarrassing doubleheader sweep Sunday to the Arizona Diamondbacks dropping their record on the season to 9-12. Bryse Wilson and Drew Smyly certainly weren’t at their best Sunday as they combined to allow 10 hits and nine runs over eight innings, Atlanta’s offensive struggles were arguably worse.
The Braves became the first team to ever record just one hit in a doubleheader eclipsing the previous low of two hits set by Cleveland back in 1992. Granted Sunday’s twin bill was a pair of seven-inning games, but watching it didn’t give you any confidence that the outcome would have been different if they had played nine innings or more.
Freddie Freeman currently has five homers and a 122 wRC+ but also a .170 BABIP. Ozzie Albies has an 83 wRC+ and a .163 BABIP despite walking more and striking out less. Dansby Swanson has a 61 wRC+ and his strikeout rate has ballooned to 32.9%. Perhaps the best example of the Braves’ struggles offensively is Marcell Ozuna who came into Sunday with just one extra-base hit in 83 plate appearances.
If there is good news, it is that the rest of the NL East hasn’t gotten things figured out either. The Braves are still in the thick of things and it is important to remember that we are looking at a full 162 game season rather than the abbreviated 60-game season for 2020. That doesn’t make watching performances like what we saw on Sunday any easier.
More Braves News
If you missed Sunday’s doubleheader sweep, there wasn’t much positive to take away from it. Zac Gallen allowed just one hit in Game 1 while Madison Bumgarner upstaged him throwing a seven-inning no-hitter in Game 2.
MLB News
An MRI on Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich’s back revealed no structural damage and the team will progress with his treatment.
Blue Jays starter Hyun-Jin Ryu left Sunday’s start after just 3 2/3 innings due to a right glute strain. Toronto is hopeful that Ryu will be able to make his next start.
The Orioles designated veteran lefty Wade LeBlanc for assignment Sunday and recalled Zac Lowther from their alternate training site.
Cubs reliever Ryan Tepera had his three-game suspension for throwing at Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff reduced to two games. He served the first in Sunday’s loss to the Brewers and will also miss Monday’s series opener in Atlanta.
Prior to Sunday’s game, the Diamondbacks announced that they released veteran reliever Anthony Swarzak who was designated for assignment earlier this week.