The Atlanta Braves won Game 2 against the Phillies thanks to some late-game heroics by Austin Riley and Michael Harris II. It was Riley who hit the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, and then Harris II who made a series-saving catch on a Nick Castellanos line drive to center field. It was then Riley who helped double off Bryce Harper at first base, thus ending the Phillies comeback attempt.
While Braves fans are rightly soaking in a victory Tuesday, they must also look ahead to Games 3 and 4 in Philadelphia. A great challenge is looming, as Philadelphia has capable pitching depth and the crowd behind them. While Atlanta was able to avoid complete disaster, it doesn't change the fact that they were just a few outs away from facing an 0-2 deficit heading on the road.
Braves cannot afford to fall behind early
Atlanta's starting pitching needs to be a little better at the beginning of games. Spencer Strider and Max Fried, while two of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball, handed over the ball with the Braves down on the scoreboard. That is not all about the pitching woes, of course. Strider had one of the best starts of the playoffs so far, he just failed to get any run support. Fried, meanwhile, wasn't as lucky -- the Phillies got the best of him.
Either way, if the Braves fall behind in Philadelphia, a comeback will be tough to come by.
The Braves engineered a comeback for the ages in Game 2, with two plays that will go down in Atlanta postseason lore. The thought that they can rely on such things again in this series is a fallacy.
Braves should leave Travis d'Arnaud in the lineup
Brian Snitker went back to a more traditional starting lineup for Game 2, and it worked. As capable as Sean Murphy has been behind the plate, d'Arnaud proved himself more than capable, leading the Braves pitching staff and hitting a home run to get his team back in the game when it seemed all hope was lost. As FanSided's Kevin Henry wrote prior to the start of Game 2, Snitker's change sent a message:
"Murphy, however, struggled in Game 1 to keep Philadelphia from running wild on the bases, throwing out just one of the five Phillies who tried to swipe a bag on Saturday. He also went 0-for-3 at the plate, striking out once...Snitker's choice at catcher, however, may be more about past history than the present. d'Arnaud is 7-for-18 lifetime against Wheeler, including 0-for-3 this season when he and Max Fried were the battery on September 12 in a 7-6, 10-inning road win."
Even if Snitker wishes to play Murphy behind the plate in Philly -- and it would make sense given Murphy is one of the best defensive catchers in baseball at his best -- taking d'Arnaud out of the lineup would be a mistake. He's seeing the ball well right now. Don't mess with what's working.
Brian Snitker, Braves cannot afford to tinker
After a disappointing Game 1, Snitker altered his lineup again before Game 2, this time reverting back to the norm. As Henry wrote from Atlanta, sometimes you just have to go with what got you there:
"With Ranger Suarez starting for the Phillies in Game 1 and not expected to go very deep into the game, Braves manager Brian Snitker shook up his lineup in advance of an expected bullpen game. Austin Riley was shifted to the second spot, with Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies sliding in behind him, shaking up what was a very consistent starting lineup throughout the season...The result? Phillies pitchers landed just the third shutout of the season on the high-powered Braves and the first time Atlanta had not plated a run at Truist Park since August 28, 2021."
Clearly, that tinkering did not work to Snitker's favor in Game 1. As one of the best veteran managers in the game, Snitker clearly knows this. Yet, even he is capable of overthinking, especially in a postseason environment where every game matters.
If Snit is in his right mind, he ought to keep things the same. Inserting Murphy back into the lineup makes sense, but don't bench a player like d'Arnaud, especially after he hit such a vital home run on Monday night.