SAN DIEGO -- The Braves have chased both Padres starters before the end of the fifth inning. They have also hit three home runs and drawn 10 walks through the first two games. So, it¡¯s not like they¡¯ve done nothing at the plate while beginning the season 0-2.
They¡¯ve created opportunities and then found regular frustration while going 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
¡°I didn¡¯t realize it was like that,¡± Braves manager Brian Snitker said after his club¡¯s 4-3 loss on Friday night at Petco Park. ¡°It feels better than that. I think on the back end of that, if we can continue this, it will be really good.¡±
Two days into the season, the Braves have validated their bullpen will be a work in progress. When H¨¦ctor Neris blew a seventh-inning lead Thursday in the Opening Day loss, some fans questioned why Dylan Lee hadn¡¯t pitched a second inning. Lee got the chance for a multi-inning opportunity on Friday, but exited immediately after allowing Jake Cronenworth to begin the bottom of the eighth with a game-winning homer.
Cronenworth hit just one home run in 153 at-bats against left-handed pitchers last year. But when it rains, it pours, even in Southern California.
¡°Everything will even out,¡± Snitker said. ¡°We¡¯ll get it going.¡±
Things are certainly bound to turn around for Drake Baldwin, who has swallowed his fair share of bad luck through his first two career games. The rookie catcher, who¡¯s ranked by MLB Pipeline as baseball¡¯s No. 62 prospect and the Braves¡¯ No. 1 prospect, had a potential home run robbed by Jackson Merrill on Thursday. On Friday, he went 0-for-3 with exit velocities of 99.1 mph, 101.6 mph and 109.6 mph. The last hot shot drilled Padres closer Robert Suarez¡¯s leg and went straight to first baseman Luis Arraez.
Padres Opening Day starter Michael King lasted just 2 2/3 innings. But his day might have been even shorter had the Braves capitalized in the first inning after using two walks to help load the bases with just one out. The lone run scored there was awarded only after a replay review overturned a close call at first base.
It looked like the Braves might be ready to turn the tide Friday during the third inning, when Marcell Ozuna delivered a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded. This was a welcome development, considering Atlanta ranked 10th among NL teams with a .245 batting average with bases loaded last year.
But the Braves¡¯ only other run of the night came courtesy of a Jarred Kelenic solo homer that chased Padres starter Dylan Cease with one out in the fifth inning.
¡°They¡¯ve had more timely hits than us,¡± Braves first baseman Matt Olson said. ¡°We¡¯re getting [their starter¡¯s] pitch count up. Then when we¡¯ve gotten in the bullpen, we haven¡¯t had much to show for it.¡±
The Braves have produced a .400 on-base percentage against San Diego¡¯s starting pitchers. But they have just a .286 overall OBP through these first two games. Austin Riley, who homered on Thursday and doubled on Friday, is the only Atlanta player with multiple hits thus far. Like Baldwin, he too has had some bad luck.
Four of the six balls Riley has put in play have been hit 100 mph or harder. That¡¯s a good sign for the third baseman, whose bid for a fourth straight 30-homer season was ended by the fractured right hand he suffered in August.
¡°This offense keeps fighting,¡± Braves starter Reynaldo L¨®pez said. ¡°I think they¡¯re going to continue to do their thing.¡±
L¨®pez began his five-inning effort by giving Fernando Tatis Jr. a 92.7 mph cookie that was lined over the outfield wall. The Braves right-hander¡¯s velocity picked up as his fastball averaged 95.6 mph (.01 higher than his 2024 average), and he surrendered just two more runs. The run tallied in the second inning could have been prevented had Ozzie Albies made a stronger throw on a potential double play.
Two games in, missed double play turns, questionable bullpen decisions and mislocated pitches will be highlighted. The same can also certainly be said of struggles with runners in scoring position. But though the results haven¡¯t been optimal, the offense will likely be the least of this team¡¯s worries, especially after Ronald Acu?a Jr. returns next month.
¡°As a unit, I feel like there¡¯s been some quality at-bats,¡± Olson said. ¡°We¡¯ve been spitting on some good pitches and making them work. If we continue to do that, the other stuff will fall into place.¡±