This story was originally published by Dead Spin
The Atlanta Braves will try to improve their playoff chances when they conclude a three-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds with a Thursday matinee.
Marcell Ozuna doubled twice and hit his first home run in 27 games as Atlanta won 7-1 in the second game of the series on Wednesday. Ozuna drove in two runs to give him 100 RBIs for the season. Ozuna is now two homers shy of a second straight 40-homer, 100-RBI season.
The veteran designated hitter batted .213 with 11 homers and 22 RBIs through the first two months of the 2023 season.
Ozuna said of his subsequent success, “It means a lot. After last year, the rough start, this year started the way that I wanted and I’ve kept it (going) all year, (and) it’s been amazing and special for me.”
Braves manager Brian Snitker added, “It’s been awesome. He’s probably gonna be another 40 and 100 guy. Nobody would’ve thought that from where he started last year. I’m proud of the man, what he’s done and how he’s hung in there, and I know his teammates really appreciate him, too.”
Atlanta (82-70) remains two games behind the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks, who sit in the final two National League wild-card spots.
“The standings, we don’t worry about it,” Ozuna said. “As a player, we don’t worry about it. We just go out there and have fun and win the game. We just have to win the game and not worry about, ‘Oh, the Phillies are 10 games (up), the Mets are one up or two up.’ Whatever they are, we just worry about winning the game. If we don’t win the game, we’re not gonna (catch) them.”
Cincinnati (74-79) was officially eliminated with its Wednesday loss to Atlanta. The Reds had playoff aspirations entering 2024 but fell far short thanks to injuries and suspensions, starting in spring training.
The team lost star infielder Matt McLain to a shoulder injury in spring training. First baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand sustained a season-ending broken hand one month into the season, center fielder TJ Friedl had three stints on the injured list, and third baseman Noelvi Marte was suspended 80 games for violating MLB’s policy prohibiting performance-enhancing substances.
In addition, four of the five pitchers who have made the most starts for Cincinnati this year are currently on the injured list.
The Reds began the season 14-10 but could never get any better. They have spent the whole second half of the season trying to reach .500. After the latest loss to the Braves, Cincinnati would have to win seven of its final nine games to reach break-even on the season.
“It doesn’t change anything for us,” manager David Bell said. “Obviously, that’s the goal, and that’s the only thing that matters. But at this point it doesn’t. That’s not going to change our approach to the rest of the games. I’m very confident seeing that with the guys we have in there, and we’ll continue to play hard like we have all year.”
The Braves will send ace left-hander Chris Sale (17-3, 2.35 ERA) to the mound in the decisive game of the series. The odds-on favorite for the National League Cy Young Award could reach the 20-win plateau if he makes three more starts and wins them all.
Sale has won seven straight decisions covering his past 13 starts since a 1-0 road loss to the Chicago White Sox on June 27.
The eight-time All-Star is facing Cincinnati for the second time in his career. He gave up one run on five hits and one run in 3 2/3 innings against the Reds for the Boston Red Sox on June 1, 2023, before leaving the game with a stress reaction in his shoulder blade and missing more than two months.
The Reds will counter with right-hander Julian Aguiar (2-0, 4.88 ERA), making the seventh start of his rookie season. Aguiar earned a road win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday, when he allowed three runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings. He will oppose Atlanta for the first time.
–Field Level Media
