ATLANTA — If some Atlanta Braves fans were starting to think they could no longer have nice things, it wasn’t because it’s a fan base spoiled by the current string of seven consecutive postseason trips and, for those old enough to remember, the dominant run of their “Team of the ’90s.”
Not, it was understandable if fans felt like their current squad was snakebitten, because since the beginning of last season it seemed every week saw a lineup regular or key pitcher land on the injured list.
On Monday, Spencer Strider went back on the IL, just five days after the 2023 MLB wins and strikeouts leader returned from a year-long rehabilitation from elbow surgery. This time, the Braves could at least be glad it wasn’t an arm injury, but rather a hamstring strain, a “freak” injury that happened while playing catch Monday.
And a few hours after Strider went on the IL, and after first baseman Matt Olson’s second-inning throwing error let in the first run of a series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Braves did something they’ve done a few times lately: Shrugged off doom and staged a late offensive outburst for a 7-6 comeback win at Truist Park.
Austin Riley hustled to beat out an infield single to start an eighth-inning rally, and Sean Murphy capped it with a three-run homer as the Braves posted their second five-run eighth in a span of four games and third of the season, turning a 3-2 deficit into a four-run lead. Olson had an RBI single and Michael Harris II added a sacrifice fly before Murphy’s homer.
“Again, late game, you do little things to get guys going,” said Harris, who had his second go-ahead RBI in the eighth inning or later this season, the other a ninth-inning homer at Tampa on April 12. “You see Riley getting down the line and beating it out. That got us going.”
After not winning back-to-back games during their 5-13 start, the Braves have won the first four on a six-game homestand that began with a sweep of the Minnesota Twins. They’ve won nine of 15 games since their 0-7 start.
They scored five runs in the eighth Friday to erase a 4-1 deficit in a 6-4 win against the Twins to open the homestand at Truist Park, where the Braves are 7-2, compared to a 2-11 road record.
The clubhouse has been noticeably more upbeat lately.
“A lot more enjoyable,” Harris said. “What’s that, four in a row now? Our first time winning two in a row was (Saturday). So it feels good to have a streak going, and hopefully we can have multiple streaks like this for the rest of the season.”
Riley had a tying two-run homer in the third inning, his sixth of the season and fourth in the past seven games. But the big third baseman made arguably an even bigger impact Monday in uncharacteristic fashion — with his legs, when he beat out that infield hit to the shortstop with one out and none on in the eighth.
“Austin busted his hump to get down there,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “That’s a big, big play right there.”
Asked about the speed he displayed, Riley laughed and said, “I slimmed down a little bit (in the offseason), just a few pounds. More so for defensive purposes, but it’s working on the basepath. Started a rally, and we were able to get five there.”
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Marcell Ozuna followed with a walk before Olson’s single, and another walk by Ozzie Albies loaded the bases for Harris.
“My main job right there was to get the ball in the air to the outfield and just get the guy in some way, whether that was a hit or what I did,” said Harris, who was back in the dugout for a good view when Murphy followed with his three-run homer.
It was Murphy’s fifth in 11 games since returning from the injured list. He’s the third catcher in franchise history to have at least that many homers in his first 11 games in a season, joining William Contreras (six in 2022) and Dale Murphy (five in 1979).
The Braves hung on to win despite closer Raisel Iglesias surrendering three runs in the ninth inning, including the fourth homer he’s allowed in nine appearances, matching his total allowed in 66 games in 2024. Iglesias, who has a 6.00 ERA, gave up consecutive doubles to the Nos. 8-9 hitters and a two-run homer to Willson Contreras.
“It was almost like he was throwing his changeup too hard,” Snitker said. “In the beginning (of the season), I thought maybe he was just a little rusty. I kind of felt like the more we used him, even the three in a row or whatever, would be good for him. And it’s just … he’s just not going to go out and blow you away. I mean, he’s a feel guy, and I think he’ll get it. He’ll get it done.”
Enthusiasm over the latest comeback win – the Braves have come from behind in five of seven home wins — was dampened only by Strider’s injury. The Braves hope it won’t keep him out for an extended period, though the training staff won’t know more until they see how Strider responds in the next several days.
He was scheduled to start Tuesday, and the Braves instead will go with a bullpen game, using an opener they weren’t ready to announce late Monday. Among the possibilities: Right-handers Michael Peterson, recalled from Triple A to take Strider’s roster spot, and Scott Blewett, acquired in a Monday trade from the Baltimore Orioles.
Strider left to get an MRI after the incident and wasn’t available to speak to reporters.
“I was coming here to see you guys (media) this afternoon, and he came up the stairs (from the dugout),” Snitker said. “I asked him, what’s the matter? And he said he pulled a hamstring playing catch, just doing his normal catch. It wasn’t accelerated or anything. It’s just kind of one of them freak things.
“I said, you can do everything right and still have something happen. Which he does. And it’s just a freak, freak thing. He was just playing catch. Just, like, feeling his arm, I think, the day before he pitches.”
Asked how long he might be out, Snitker said, “All these kind of injuries, you just never know how long it’s gonna take. It could be slight; we’ve seen a lot of slight ones that take a while. So, just hope for the best, for his sake and ours. I just hate it again for the guy. You do all that work, you do everything right, and still something like this can bite you.”
The Braves already were without one of their top starting pitchers, Reynaldo López, who made one start before arthroscopic shoulder surgery that could sideline him until at least September. And reigning Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale has struggled mightily in the early season, with a 6.17 ERA and only 23 1/3 innings pitched in five starts.
But the Braves still felt good about having a rotation led by “Spencer Squared” — Schwellenbach and Strider — to start the first two games of the series against the Cardinals and at least give the team a strong chance to win every time they pitched going forward. Now, back to one Spencer.
Schwellenbach wasn’t as sharp as usual Monday, but still went seven innings and limited the Cardinals to three runs (two earned) on eight hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
After a year away, Strider made his return to the major-league mound Wednesday at Toronto, pitching five innings and allowing five hits, two runs and one walk with five strikeouts in a 3-1 loss. Now, he’ll have to wait — again — before he’s healthy enough for another start.
“I feel bad for the guy,” Riley said. “I mean, just everything that he’s been through. Just grinding that long, and then to finally get back. I thought his start the other day was really good, and to hear (about the hamstring injury) … hopefully it’s minor.”
(Top photo of Sean Murphy celebrating after hitting a three-run eighth-inning homer: Brett Davis / Imagn Images)
