Inbox: Will Swanson or Adeiny start in NLDS?

If Dansby Swanson continues to struggle this week, is there a chance Adeiny Hechavarría will be the starting shortstop to begin the National League Division Series?
-- @KatysMyHabibi

Let’s just say this is a very important week for Swanson. Braves manager Brian Snitker put Swanson at the top of Sunday’s lineup and he plans to get the shortstop as many plate appearances as possible with the hope the conclusion of his regular season is as promising as the beginning was.

Swanson has produced a MLB-worst .457 OPS dating to Aug. 26, which is when he returned from the injured list. His extended offensive woes might have influenced the two errors committed in Sunday’s loss to the Giants.

The Braves are at their best with Swanson in the lineup. But with Swanson far from his own best, the club may have no choice but to turn to Hechavarria, who has proven to be more than “all glove” while producing a unexpected .892 in 63 plate appearances.

Should Freddie Freeman's injury be a legitimate concern despite what the team has said about it? As you’ve noted, he has been in a massive batting slump the past couple of weeks.
-- @abroberts_1

As you suggest, I think it’s always wise to assume a team’s concern about an injury is often more significant than what is publicly voiced. Nobody knows if four days' rest will be enough to prevent the bone spur from continuing to be cranky. But having already clinched the NL East title, the Braves are at least fortunate to have this option to keep him sidelined until at least Friday.

Freeman experienced just two days of relief after taking advantage of last week’s off-day. He’s dealt with this elbow ailment for a few years now. But he never discussed it before last weekend, when it became problematic enough that he had no choice but to exit a game.

Quite honestly, I don’t think anybody can confidently say the spur won’t continue to be a problem. But if rest is the necessary remedy, the timing is right. After getting at least four days' rest this week, Freeman will have a chance to rest at least two more days next week leading up to the start of the NLDS.

Given all the right-handers the Cardinals would throw, besides our big 4, how imperative are Matt Joyce, Nick Markakis and Brian McCann to the Braves' success in the NLDS? It always seems like there is an unlikely hero in the playoffs, so why not one of them?
-- @PTownBrave22

As you point out, if the Braves face the Cardinals, the only lefties they would likely see are relievers Andrew Miller and Tyler Webb. But instead of ignoring the Braves’ big 4, it seems worth noting how good they have been against right-handed pitchers.

OPS vs. RHP dating to Aug. 1: Freeman 1.072, Ronald Acu?a Jr. .930, Josh Donaldson .920, Ozzie Albies .828.

Braves fans have certainly grown appreciative of Joyce, who has a .968 OPS in 106 plate appearances against righties since the start of August. If the veteran outfielder, who was with three teams during Spring Training, extends this success into October, he could certainly become this year’s unlikely hero.

What are the expected pitching-catching matchups for the NLDS?
-- @ArgentineVol

Given McCann and Dallas Keuchel spent the past two years together in Houston, it was natural to assume they’d form a regular battery when reunited this summer in Atlanta. But Keuchel gained an immediate appreciation of Flowers’ framing skills and the lefty has been regularly paired with him over the past two months. The former American League Cy Young Award winner has 2.56 ERA (56 1/3 innings) with Flowers and a 4.73 ERA (51 1/3 innings) with McCann.

Mike Soroka has produced a similar ERA with the two catchers -- 2.57 ERA (80 2/3 innings) with Flowers and a 2.46 ERA (84 innings) with McCann. But he has not worked with McCann since Aug. 16.

You can count on McCann catching Mike Foltynewicz and Flowers serving as Keuchel’s catcher. But Snitker might just go with his gut when choosing who to pair with Soroka. Flowers has uncharacteristically struggled against lefties, but his .825 OPS against righties trumps the .773 OPS McCann has produced against them.

Why would Darren O'Day (who has pitched 2 2/3 innings) make the roster over Luke Jackson?
-- @NotSayi663

Nobody was more critical than I was of Jackson being placed on the Opening Day roster. I repeatedly wrote he was only there because “he was out of options.” Six months later, I will say the Braves wouldn’t be in their current position without Jackson. No reliever was as valuable as he was through the end of July. He handled a role he wasn’t ready for and took the ball every time Snitker asked.

Unfortunately, the workload has seemingly taken its toll. Opponents have hit .359/.419/.538 over his past nine appearances.

Maybe we haven’t seen enough from O’Day, who has retired eight of the 11 batters he’s faced since returning from his long absence. But he’ll likely make at least three more appearances before the regular season ends. For now, I’m just betting on the fresh former All-Star instead of the taxed, less experienced reliever.

If O’Day falters this week, my opinion might change. It would be great to see Jackson enjoy success in October. He’s a hilarious, likeable underdog. But as I wrote Sunday, you can’t allow sentimentality to block reason when chasing October dreams.