RHP Max Scherzer (0-1, 1.46) vs. RHP Ian Anderson (1-0, 0.00)
Sunday, October 17, 2021 | 7:37 p.m. ET | Truist Park | Cumberland, GA
National League Championship Series – Game 2
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
NOW IT’S OUR TURN: The Dodgers last night were walked-off, 3-2, on Austin Riley’s RBI-single in the bottom of the ninth off Blake Treinen. The Dodgers will try to even the series up tonight at 7:37 p.m. ET and then head back to Dodger Stadium for an afternoon start on Tuesday at 2:08 p.m. PT. The Dodgers and Braves met in the NLCS last year with the Dodgers coming out on top in seven games after falling behind, 3-1. Los Angeles is playing in its sixth NLCS in the last nine years and fifth in the last six seasons. The Dodgers and Braves have met four previous times in the Postseason: last year and three times in the NLDS (1996, 2013 and 2018).
Dodger catcher Will Smith ripped a solo homer in the fourth inning last night, giving him three in this playoffs, which is the most by a Dodger catcher in a single Postseason. Smith surpassed Steve Yeager, who hit two in 1977 and 1981 and Roy Campanella, who belted two in 1955. Despite taking the loss, the Dodger bullpen was fantastic last night, allowing two runs in 7.1 innings while striking out 12. In seven Postseason games this year, the Dodger ‘pen is 3-1 with a 1.67 ERA (6 ER/32.1 IP), a 0.68 WHIP and 42 strikeouts. Their .448 opponents’ OPS leads the Majors this Postseason while their ERA ranks second to the Braves (1.02). Since 1969, when the League Championship Series was introduced to Major League Baseball, the Dodgers have appeared in the LCS 15 times, which is the most in the National League. The Dodgers and Braves (12) are two of seven franchises that have appeared in the LCS 10+ times.
MOOKIE MAGIC: Dodger All-Star Mookie Betts had a career Postseason high four hits in Game 5 of the NLDS vs. San Francisco and his 11 hits are tied with Alex Verdugo for second in all of Major League Baseball this Postseason, trailing only Kiké Hernández (16). Betts is batting .393 (11-for-28) with a homer, four RBI and two stolen bases in seven games this Postseason.
THE MACHINE: Dodger infielder Albert Pujols went 2-for-2 in Game 3 of the NLDS, recording his first postseason hit since 2014. He became the oldest Dodger in franchise history to record a postseason hit, surpassing Manny Mota (40 years) in Game 3 of the NLCS in 1978. At 41 years, 268 days old, Pujols is the oldest player with a multi-hit postseason game since Julio Franco (45y, 42d) in 2003 (NLDS Game 4). In his postseason career, he is a .322 (92-for-286) hitter with 19 homers and 54 RBI.
ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END: The Dodgers went 106-56, finishing the season with a franchise tying 106 wins (2019) and the second-best mark in the Major Leagues. The Dodgers .654 winning percentage was slightly behind the San Francisco Giants, who also set a franchise record with 107 wins and a .660 winning percentage. The
Dodgers .654 winning percentage is tied fourth highest with the 2019 squad since 1900, trailing only the 2020 (.717), 1953 (.682) and 1942 (.675) teams. The Dodgers eight division titles was the longest active streak in the Major Leagues, and it was the third longest streak in Major League Baseball history:
MLB All-Time – Most Consecutive Division Titles
Braves, 1991-2005 14
Yankees, 1998-2006 9
Dodgers, 2013-2020 8
The Dodgers are playing “October Baseball” for the 35th time in franchise history (26th time in Los Angeles) and for the 11th time in the last 14 years.
MAXIMUM SCHERZ: Dodger right-hander Max Scherzer will make his third Postseason start and fourth appearance tonight for the Dodgers, following his one-inning relief outing in Game 5 of the NLDS where he picked up his first professional save. Tonight, will be Scherzer’s 26th postseason appearance (21 st start) and in his career he’s 7-6 with a 3.18 ERA (44 ER/124.1 IP), 153 strikeouts and a .193 opponents’ average. In his career against the Braves, he is 10-9 with a 3.88 ERA (68 ER/157.2 IP) and 185 strikeouts in 27 regular season games (25 starts). Scherzer is 3-3 with a 3.71 ERA (14 ER/34.0 IP) in six starts at Truist Park. In his 20 career postseason starts, he is 6-5 with a 3.05 ERA (40 ER/118.0 IP) and 143 strikeouts against 47 walks.
START ME UP: Dodger starting pitchers lead the Major Leagues in ERA (2.93), WHIP (1.03), opponents’ average (.209) and opponents’ OBP (.265) and finished third in the Majors with 1.09 home runs per 9.0 innings. According to Sport Radar, the Dodgers are just the fifth staff in the divisional era to lead the Majors in both
opponents’ average by a reliever (.205) and opponents’ average by a starter (.209). The other teams were the 1993 Braves, the 2012 Rays, the 2016 Cubs and the ‘18 Astros. Los Angeles starters finished with a National League best 74 quality starts despite having 20 different players start a a game for them this season
RHP Max Scherzer: 15-4, 2.46 in 30 GS | 0-1, SV, 1.46 ERA in 3 PS G (2 GS)
2021 Postseason:
▪ Is 0-1 with save and a 1.48 ERA (2 ER/12.1 IP) in three games (two starts) o Wild Card: Started the Wild Card Game against the Cardinals on Oct. 8, allowing one run on three hits in 4.1 innings in a no-decision…walked three, struck out four and threw 94 pitches in the Dodgers’ eventual 3-1 walk-off win o NLDS: 0-1, SV, 1.13 ERA (1 ER/8.0 IP) in 2 G (1 GS)
▪ Took the loss in Game 3 despite allowing just one run on three hits in 7.0 innings in the Dodgers’ 1-0 defeat…walked one, struck out 10 and threw 110 pitches…his only run surrendered was a fifth-inning solo shot by Evan Longoria…was the fifth double-digit strikeout game of his Postseason career
▪ Picked up his first career save in Game 5, striking out two in a scoreless ninth to close out the series 2021 Regular Season:
▪ Acquired on July 30 with Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals in exchange for catcher Keibert Ruiz, pitchers Josiah Gray and Gerardo Carrillo and outfielder
Donovan Casey…has gone 7-0 with a 1.98 ERA (15 ER/68.10 IP) in 11 starts with Los Angeles
▪ The three-time Cy Young Award winner was selected to his eighth All-Star team this year and made the start for Dave Roberts’ NL squad
▪ Enters his start on an 11-game winning streak, going 11-0 with a 2.54 ERA (31 ER/110.0 IP) in his last 19 starts since June 4
▪ Had a streak of 37.2 innings without allowing an earned run from Aug. 21-Sept. 23, allowing one unearned run during the streak
▪ Picked up his 3,000th career strikeout on Sept. 12 against the Padres, becoming the 19th all-time player to do so
▪ Led the Majors in WHIP (0.86) and opponents’ batting average (.185), and also ranked among the best in ERA (2nd) and strikeouts (4th)
▪ Has 236 strikeouts, his ninth 200-strikeout season…tied for the fifth most seasons of 200+ strikeouts all time with Justin Verlander, Pedro Martinez and Bob Gibson, behind only: Nolan Ryan (15), Randy Johnson (13), Roger Clemens (12) and Tom Seaver (10)
▪ Limited opponents to a .159/.226/.280 SLG slashline with runners on base and a MLB-best .131 average with RISP (13-for-99) Career vs. Braves:
▪ Last faced the Braves on Sept. 1 at Dodger Stadium, when he struck out nine and allowed only three hits in 6.0 scoreless innings in a no decision (eventual 4-3 Dodger win)
▪ Also faced Atlanta on April 6 with Washington at Nationals Park, allowing four runs on five hits with nine strikeouts in 6.0 innings…did not factor in the decision in Washington’s 6-5 victory
▪ Overall, is 10-9 with a 3.88 ERA (68 ER/157.2 IP) in 27 career games (25 starts) against Atlanta, including a 3-3 mark with a 3.71 ERA (14 ER/34.0 IP) in six starts at Truist Park Career Postseason:
▪ Has a 7-6 career record with one save and a 3.18 ERA (44 ER/124.1 IP) in 25 games (20 starts) in Postseason play
▪ Went 3-0 with a 2.40 ERA (8 ER/30.0 IP) in six games (five starts) during the Nationals’ run to a World Championship in 2019…started Washington’s Wild Card game against Milwaukee, allowing three runs in 5.0 innings in a no-decision
ATLANTA BRAVES
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Dodgers continue their best-of-seven National League Championship Series tonight after Atlanta took the opener yesterday, 3-2…The 2020 NLCS marks the fourth postseason series between the two clubs.
• The Braves won two-of-three games here at Truist Park against Los Angeles this season before getting swept in a three-game set at Dodger Stadium… Atlanta lost the season series with the Dodgers for the fifth consecutive season, and since 2014, they are 19-38 (.333) in the regular season and playoffs against Los Angeles.
• The Braves have won each of the last two series with Los Angeles in Atlanta, but are 4-20 (.167) over the last 24 games in the regular season and playoffs at Dodger Stadium…They have lost seven straight games in LA, and 10 of the last 11 there.
• The Braves and Dodgers have met four times in postseason play, including last season in the NLCS…The prior three matchups before last season came in the Division Series…Atlanta swept Los Angeles in the 1996 NLDS, before Los Angeles won each of the last three series…The Dodgers took the 2013 and 2018 NLDS, three-games-toone, before winning the pennant in seven games over the Braves last season.
• RHP Ian Anderson is 3-0 with a 0.76 ERA (2 ER/23.2 IP) in five career postseason games, all starts…The 23-year-old rookie faced Los Angeles twice in the NLCS last season, taking two nodecisions after throwing a combined 7.0 innings and allowing two runs earned…He fanned seven and walked seven…In his only regular season start against the Dodgers, Anderson took the loss after allowing one hit and four runs, earned, over 4.1 innings on June 4 here in Atlanta.
• RHP Max Scherzer is set for his 26th career postseason appearance and his 21st start…The 37-year-old righty is 7-6 with a 3.18 ERA (44 ER/124.1 IP) and one save in the postseason, but has never faced Atlanta in the playoffs.
GAME 1 WIN: The Braves won yesterday’s NLCS series opener, 3-2, on a game-ending, ninth-inning single by Austin Riley…The Braves have now won four consecutive postseason games after losing their playoff opener, 2-1, at Milwaukee in the NLDS.
• The Braves are 13-5 (.722) when they win Game 1 of a postseason series…They last lost a series when winning the opener last season, when they took Game 1 of the NLCS before losing in seven games to the Dodgers.
• In 51 previous NLCS matchups, the team winning Game 1 has gone on to win the series 36 times (70.6%)…Since the series switched to a best-of-7 format in 1985, the team winning Game 1 has advanced to the World Series in 24 of 35 seasons (68.6%)…In six of the last eight NLCS, the team winning Game 1 has won the series.
THE BULLPEN: The Braves bullpen tossed three more scoreless innings last night, lowering its postseason era to 1.02 (2 ER/17.2 IP).
• LHP Tyler Matzek has appeared in all five of the Braves’ postseason games this season, and has yet to allow a run…He has fanned seven in 5.1 innings, and earned the win in Game 4 of the NLDS.
• RHP Luke Jackson has also appeared in all five games this postseason, and has yet to allow a run… Dating to the beginning of August, Jackson owns a 1.20 ERA (4 ER/30.0 IP) in 32 games.
POSTSEASON IAN ANDERSON: RHP Ian Anderson is 3-0 with a 0.76 ERA (2 ER/23.2 IP) in five career postseason games.
• The only other pitcher in baseball history with at least 20.0 innings and two-or-fewer earned runs across his first five postseason starts is Hall-of-Famer Christy Mathewson (New York Giants, 1905-11).
• Anderson is also one of eight players in major league history to win three postseason starts prior to his 24th birthday…Michael Wacha and Fernando Valenzuela both have four wins, while Jaret Wright, Babe Ruth, Liván Hernández, Madison Bumgarner and Steve Avery all have three.
• Anderson has won five straight decisions, dating to August 29 vs. the Giants..He has compiled a 3.13 ERA (13 ER/37.1 IP) over the seven-start stretch.
POSTSEASON PITCHING: The Braves enter tonight’s game with a postseason-leading 1.64 ERA (8 ER/44.0 IP)…The Dodgers are second at 2.05 (14 ER/61.1 IP).
• Atlanta also has the best K/9 rate (11.25, 55 strikeouts) and the second best K/BB (5.50, 10 walks).
RUNS: The Braves have scored 15 runs this postseason, for an average of 3.0 runs per games, the lowest of any of the four remaining clubs.
• Atlanta has hit five home runs this postseason, after hitting 239 in the regular season, which ranked third in MLB and was the second most ever by a Braves team.
• The Braves have scored six of their last eight runs this postseason without the benefit of the home run, including the game-winning run last night…In the regular season, the Braves scored 48.2% of their runs via the homer, the second highest percentage in the NL…Only San Francisco was higher at 49.5%.
ON THE ROAD: After tonight’s game, the series shifts to Los Angeles for Games 3-5.
• The Braves went 46-35 (.568) away from Truist Park this season, tied for the fifth-best road record in the majors…Since 2018 and the start of this four-season
playoff run, the Braves are the second-best road team in the majors with a mark of 156-117 (.571).
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher
#36 Ian Anderson
RHP • 6-3 • 170 • 23 yrs
2021 Record: 9-5, 3.58 ERA • 2020 Record: 3-2, 1.95 ERA
vs. RHB: .235 (58-247), 6 HR • vs. LHB: .206 (47-228), 10 HR
Tonight’s Game
• Set to make his sixth career start in the postseason…Is 3-0 with a 0.76 ERA (2 ER/23.2 IP) and 30 strikeouts in the playoffs in his career…Pitched Game 3 of the NLDS vs. Milwaukee and tossed 5.0 scoreless innings with just three hits and six strikeouts.
• In his first five career postseason starts, has pitched 23.2 innings and allowed only two earned runs…The only other pitcher in baseball history with at least 20 innings and two-or-fewer earned runs across his first five postseason starts is Hall-of-Famer Christy Mathewson (New York Giants, 1905-11).
• Did not allow a run in any of his first three career playoff starts, and four of his five postseason starts have been scoreless…He is the first pitcher in baseball history to have at least four scoreless starts of at least four innings apiece within his first five postseason starts.
• He became the first pitcher in franchise history to make three straight playoff starts and not allow a run…Anderson is one of just two pitchers in baseball history to open their postseason career with three consecutive scoreless starts of at least 4.0 innings, again joining Hall-of-Famer Christy Mathewson… Mathewson pitched shutouts in Game 1, Game 3 and Game 5 of the 1905 World Series in his first three playoff starts.
• Has made three career postseason starts in Game 2 of a series, all of which came last season…Started Game 2 of the Wild Card series vs. Cincinnati, the NLDS vs.
Miami and the NLCS vs. Los Angeles.
• Went 2-0 and did not allow a run in any of these games, compiling 15.2 scoreless innings and striking out 22…Atlanta won all three games.
• Has made one career start against Los Angeles in the regular season, allowing four runs over 4.1 innings on June 4 earlier this season here at Truist Park…Surrendered just one hit and struck out six, but took the loss after the Dodgers scored eight times in the fourth inning.
• Became the second Braves starter in the live-ball era (since 1920) to allow just one hit over at least 4.0 innings but surrender at least four runs…Steve Bedrosian allowed one hit, four walks and four runs over 5.0 innings to beat the Giants, 8-7, on October 6, 1985.
• Started Game 2 and Game 7 of the NLCS vs. the Dodgers last season, and allowed six hits and two runs over 7.0 combined inning…Matched walks and strikeouts with seven each.
• Allowed 17 earned runs in the first inning this season, pitching to a 6.38 ERA and a 5.94 FIP….Threw 499 pitches, an average of 21 pitches per first inning.
• Pitched to a 2.93 ERA (34 ER/104.1 IP) in all other innings, compiling a 3.73 FIP and throwing just 16 pitches per inning. 2021 Recap
• Made 24 starts during his rookie season and went 9-5 with a 3.58 ERA (51 ER/128.1 IP) and 124 strikeouts…He entered the season ranked by MLB.com as Atlanta’s top pitching prospect, and as the Braves’ No. 2 prospect overall…He is rated as the No. 18 prospect in baseball.
• He lost prospect status in his start, April 21 at NYY, when he eclipsed 50.0 career innings in the majors…He went 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA over six starts in his debut season last year.
• In his start, April 27, held Chicago to just one hit over 7.0 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out eight.
• He became the first pitcher in baseball’s live-ball era (since 1920) to have three starts of at least 6.0 innings and no more than one hit allowed in his first 11 games.
• Anderson held the Yankees to just one hit over 6.0 innings in his major league debut, and allowed just one hit over 7.0 shutout innings on September 20 of last season at Washington.
• Beat the Yankees in the Bronx, April 21, and beat the Mets in Flushing, 1-0, in Game 2 of a doubleheader, June 21…Anderson was born in Rexford, NY, and attended
Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park.
• Anderson became the first native New Yorker to beat the Yankees and Mets in New York in the same season.
• The last native New Yorker to beat two New York teams on the road in a single season was Philadelphia’s Jim Konstanty (Strykersville) and Chicago’s Turk Lown (Brooklyn) in 1953…Both pitchers beat the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants in relief that season.
• Started on July 11 at Miami and allowed six hits, five walks and four runs over just
2.1 innings…Threw 64 pitches.
• Was placed on the Injured List on July 16 (retro to July 13) with right shoulder inflammation, and missed 39 games. Career Recap
• Atlanta selected Anderson with the third overall pick in the 2016 draft…He was Atlanta’s highest draft selection since 1991, when the Braves took Mike Kelly second overall.
• With his debut last season, Anderson became the 18th first-round pick from the 2016 draft to debut, and just the fourth high schoool first-rounder to do so.
Braves Bullpen Briefs
Jesse Chavez • RHP • 6-1 • 175 • 37 yrs • #60
Saves/Opp: 0/1 Holds: 2 1st Batter/Retired: 26/17 Inherited Runners/Scored: 12/5
• Pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief in two appearances against Milwaukee in the NLDS.
• Made one scoreless appearance with Chicago (NL) in the 2018 Wild Card Round.
• His 2.03 FIP is the sixth lowest in the majors (min 20.0 IP).
• Twenty-one of his 26 relief appearances have been scoreless since joining Atlanta.
• Has a 2.57 ERA in four starts and 2.03 ERA in in 26 relief appearances with the Braves this season.
• Had a 2.25 ERA (5 ER/20.0 IP) in 13 appearances with Triple-A Gwinnett.
• Spend the 2020 season with Texas…Had a 6.88 ERA in 18 appearances.
Luke Jackson • RHP • 6-2 • 210 • 29 yrs • #77
Saves/Opp: 0/4 Holds: 31 1st Batter/Retired: 71/47 Inherited Runners/Scored: 27/7
• Pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in relif this postseason…Appeared in all five of Atlanta’s postseason games.
• Made three postseason appearances in the 2019 NLDS against St. Louis, and pitched to a 10.13 ERA.
• His 59 scoreless appearances are tied for the fifth most in MLB.
• Ranks second in the majors with 31 holds this season.
• Owns the third highest left-on-base percentage among all pitchers in the majors at 90.2% (min. 45.0 IP)…Trails only Josh Hader (91.7%) and Ian Kennedy (91.1%).
• His 14 earned runs allowed are the second fewest in baseball among pitchers with as many outings.
• Along with teammate Will Smith, led the Braves with 71 appearances this season, the most by an Atlanta pitcher since Luis Avilán played in 75 games in 2013.
• Has induced 255 ground balls since the beginning of the 2019 season, fourth most in the majors among relievers.
Chris Martin • RHP • 6-8 • 225 • 35 yrs • #55
Saves/Opp: 1/3 Holds: 13 1st Batter/Retired: 45/30 Inherited Runners/Scored: 3/2
• Finished his third season with Atlanta with one save, 13 holds and a 3.95 ERA (19 ER/43.1 IP) in 46 outings.
• Averaged 1.25 walks per nine innings this year, the third lowest rate in the majors (min. 40 app).
• Averaging 1.31 walks per nine innings pitched this year, third lowest rate in baseball (min. 40 app.).
• His 37 holds since the beginning of the 2019 season were tied for the 16th most over that three-year span.
• Pitched to a 3.32 ERA before the All-Star Break and a 4.57 ERA after the break
• Tossed the sixth immaculate inning in franchise history, 9/11/19 at Philadelphia, fanning César Hernández, Jay Bruce, and Logan Morrison on nine total pitches.
Tyler Matzek • LHP • 6-3 • 210 • 30 yrs • #68
Saves/Opp: 0/0 Holds: 24 1st Batter/Retired: 69/45 Inherited Runners/Scored: 28/3
• Is one of three Braves in franchise history (dating to 1901) to pitch to a sub-1.00 ERA in his first 12 postseason appearances and first since John Rocker between the 1998-’99 posteasons.
• Stranded two runners and pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in relief against Milwaukee in the NLDS.
• Entered his second postseason while owning a 1.04 ERA (1 ER/8.2 IP) in seven relief appearances during Atlanta’s 2020 postseason run.
• Stranded 25 of 28 inherited runners…His 89.3% strand rate is the highest in baseball (min. 25 IR).
• Credited with a hold in 15 out of his last 29 outings…His 24 holds are tied for the fifth most in MLB.
• Pitched to a 1.93 ERA in 47 appearances after allowing three runs on June 1 against Washington.
• His 11.00 K/9 rate was the sixth highest in the NL among pitchers with at least as many appearances this year.
• Ranked second in the majors in strikeouts (120), second in innings (92.0 IP) and tied for third in FIP (2.81 – min. 65.0 IP) among lefty relievers since the beginning of the 2020 season.
• His 90 appearances over the past two seasons are tied for the third most among lefty relievers.
• Snapped a homerless streak of 41.2 innings dating to April 30, on 9/7 vs. Washington.
• His debut with Atlanta in 2020 was his first appearance in the majors since July 26, 2015… Was out of baseball in 2017 and pitched in the independent American Association in 2018…Rejoined affiliated baseball in 2019 and joined the Braves’ bullpen in 2020.
A.J. Minter • LHP • 6-0 • 215 • 27 yrs • #33
Saves/Opp: 0/6 Holds: 23 1st Batter/Retired: 61/45 Inherited Runners/Scored: 24/4
• Struck out three of the four hitters he faced in Game 4 of the NLDS against Milwaukee.
• Is 1-0 with a blown save and a 1.93 ERA (2 ER/9.1 IP) in seven relief appearances and one start in the postseason.
• Faced Los Angeles in the 2018 NLDS and 2020 NLCS…Pitched 0.2 scoreless innings in relief against Cincinnati
in the 2020 Wild Card Series and a scoreless innings against Miami in the NLDS in 2020.
• Owns a 2.75 FIP ove the last two seasons, second lowest among lefty relievers behind only Josh Hader (min. 65 IP).
• Pitched to a a 1.89 ERA and 9.47 K/9 in 19 games since being recalled on August 10.
• Prior to being optioned on 7/16, his 20 holds were the most in MLB…Ranks T-7th after being recalled on 8/10.
• Did not allow a hit or surrender a run in seven outings with Triple-A Gwinnett while fanning 10 hitters in 7.1 IP.
• Made his first career start in Game 5 of the NLCS in 2020… Minter became the first pitcher in major league
history to make his first career start in the postseason… Held Los Angeles to one hit while fanning seven without
issuing a walk over 3.0 scoreless innings during his start.
• Became the first pitcher in postseason history to strike out at least seven batters in an outing of three innings or
fewer, and just the fourth pitcher in franchise history to do so in any game…Jesse Biddle was the last to do so,
fanning eight Nationals in 3.0 innings of relief on June 2, 2018…Minter fanned five consecutive batters to end
his outing, tying the NLCS record.
Will Smith • LHP • 6-5 • 255 • 31 yrs • #51
Saves/Opp: 37/43 Holds: 0 1st Batter/Retired: 71/48 Inherited Runners/Scored: 1/1
• Recorded his first career postseason save on 10/9 in Game 2 of the NLDS against Milwaukee…Converted three save opportunities in Games 2, 3, and 4.
• Played in two postseasons, with Atlanta in 2020 and San Francisco in 2016…Owns a 2.38 ERA and a 3-2 record in 13 postseason relief appearances.
• His 37 saves were the fourth most in the majors…Converted 37 of 43 opportunities for an 86% conversion rate.
• Leads Atlanta with 37 saves this year, the most by an Atlanta reliever since Craig Kimbrel had 47 saves in 2014.
• Per Baseball Reference, has the most appearances in high-leverage situations with 50…Kenley Jansen is the next closest with 45…For reference, MLB saves leader, Mark Melancon, has only appeared in 31 such situations.
• Was 1-5 with a 4.74 ERA prior to June 10…Since then he has pitched to a 2.70 ERA with 26 saves.
• Allowed seven home runs in 16.0 IP (18 appearances) for a HR/9 rate of 3.94 in 2020…Has allowed 11 home runs in 71 appearances (68.0 IP) this season for a 1.46 HR/9 rate.
Drew Smyly • LHP • 6-2 • 188 • 32 yrs • #18
Saves/Opp: 0/0 Holds: 0 1st Batter/Retired: 6/5 Inherited Runners/Scored: 0/0
• Pitched to a 2.57 ERA (2 ER/7.0 IP) in 10 relief appearances with Detroit in the 2012 and 2013 postseasons.
• Owns a 4.75 ERA in 23 starts and a 1.64 ERA in six relief appearances (11.0 IP) this season…Has a career 4.32 ERA as a starter and a 3.32 ERA as a reliever.Made his first 23 appearances in the rotation, and pitched his final six games out of the bullpen…Went 9-4 with a 4.75 ERA (61 ER/115.2 IP) as a starter and 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA (2 ER/11.0 IP) in relief.
• For his career, has an ERA a full run lower out of the bullpen, pitching to a 4.32 ERA in 718.0 innings as a starter and a 3.32 ERA over 119.1 innings in relief.
• Went 14 consecutive starts without taking a loss, from June 8 to August 21…Went 7-0 with a 3.50 ERA (25 ER/64.1 IP) during the run.
Jacob Webb • RHP • 6-2 • 210 • 27 yrs • #71
Saves/Opp: 1/3 Holds: 0 1st Batter/Retired: 34/21 Inherited Runners/Scored: 21/9
• Made three relief appearances and pitched to a 9.00 ERA with Atlanta in the 2020 postseason…Two of those outings were scoreless.
• Has a 1.93 ERA (4 ER/18.2 IP) in 20 home games and a 6.89 ERA (12 ER/15.2 IP) in 14 road games.
• Held opponents to one earned run or less in 46 of his first 48 career games, the second most such games to begin
a career by a Braves player, trailing only Jonny Venters.
• Tossed 2.1 scoreless frames in relief on September 26 against Boston to become the first player in Braves franchise history (dating to 1901) without an earned run allowed in 40 of his first 44 career games.
