What we learned after Braves' season-opening series win vs. Phillies
While the Braves fell to the Phillies on Sunday, Atlanta still won the series and outscored Philadelphia by 13 runs over the course of three games. Here are three things we learned following the first series of the season.
Atlanta's offense is still elite, and probably got better over the offseason
In the first two games of the series, the Braves scored 21 runs and garnered 32 total hits. If you were wondering whether or not Atlanta would have the same offensive firepower in 2024 that they did in 2023, the answer seems to be a resounding yes. In Saturday's 12-4 triumph, five Braves players had three hits, while Matt Olson had four extra base hits in the series' first two contests.
Pitching is most solid, but shaky at times
Spencer Strider and Chris Sale both put together solid opening outings on Friday and Sunday respectively, but Braves ace Max Fried got pummeled on the mound in Saturday's contest, not even throwing a full inning before having to be relieved. In 0.2 innings of work, Fried gave up three runs on two hits and three walks, posting an ERA of 40.50 after one start. Nothing to panic about, but Fried's rough start is not what anyone imagined. As for the bullpen... the verdict is still out. They closed the deal in Friday and Saturday's matchups, but after a double play was overturned, Adam Bummer gave up four consecutive singles to give Philadelphia a 5-3 lead. The costly seventh inning eventually turned out to cost Atlanta the game, leading Braves fans to worry that the bullpen could be the biggest issue with the club for the second season in a row.
Early on, the Jarred Kelenic experiment is working
Plenty of expectations were placed on Kelenic coming into the season, as the former Mariner was the biggest unknown in a lineup that saw little change from 2023. In the first series of the year, the 24-year-old went 5-7 at the plate with a walk and two RBI. He also made a spectacular defensive play on Saturday, as seen below:
Opening weekend doesn't ensure the success of a player or team throughout a 162-game season, but Kelenic's solid start (and that of the team as a whole) leaves Braves fans with a good taste in their mouth leaving Philadelphia, which can't be said for the last two times the Braves have faced the Phillies in critical series at Citizens Bank Park.
While the sting of the Braves' last two postseason defeats still lingers, winning the opening series of the season in a hostile environment against a rival certainly should give Atlanta confidence, a dangerous thing for a team as deep as the Braves to have. They'll kick off their second series of the year in Chicago against the White Sox on Monday, with first pitch scheduled for 2:10 p.m. ET. Charlie Morton will take the mound for the first time in 2024.
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