Braves takeaways: Spencer Schwellenbach hits a lull, Ozzie Albies struggles and more

New York Times

28-04-2025

PHOENIX — Even though the Atlanta Braves lost Sunday for the third time in six starts by Spencer Schwellenbach, who's been their ace this season, they left Arizona with their first road-series win, along with a 7-2 record in their past nine games and a 12-8 mark since their ugly 0-7 start.
They left feeling rejuvenated.
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It was a decidedly different mood in the clubhouse, even after Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks, than it was when the Braves left Toronto with a 5-13 record on April 16 after striking out 19 times in a series finale.
'I think we all expect to play like this every time,' Schwellenbach said of the Braves' three consecutive series wins. 'We have a really good team, and a lot of confidence in each and every one of our guys that when we come out here, each of us is going to take control of what we can control and come out on top.'
Braves manager Brian Snitker put it this way: 'Things are evening out now. We're over the beginning of the year, and things are going to start settling in and being what we're used to here. We've had a really good run, we've got a great stretch of coming back (in games), and we were right there today.'
#Braves take the series at Arizona but lose 6-4 in the finale, with Schwellenbach allowing 4 runs (3 earned) in 6 IP. It's just their second loss in nine games, and the Braves are 12-15 headed to Colorado for three games before returning hom. Atlanta is 12-8 since its 0-7 start.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 27, 2025
Marcell Ozuna's two-out RBI double in the ninth got the Braves within 4-3, and Matt Olson walked before Ozzie Albies flied out to end the game. That gave Albies a total of five runners stranded in the seventh and ninth innings.
It's not like Schwellenbach has been bad over his past three starts. But he set such an extraordinarily high standard last season as a rookie and in his first three starts this season, anything less than dominance now seems a bit surprising.
From the All-Star break last season through April 10 this year, Schwellenbach had a 2.27 in 18 starts. That included a 0.49 ERA through his first three starts this season, with a .149 opponents' average, .406 opponents' OPS, 19 strikeouts and three walks in 20 innings.
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But in his past three starts, Schwellenbach has looked entirely mortal, allowing 21 hits, 13 runs (11 earned) and three homers in 17 2/3 innings while going 0-2 with a 5.60 ERA.
He gave up seven hits and four runs (three earned) in six innings Sunday, and his throwing error led to the unearned run in the second inning. Schwellenbach, a former college shortstop, made a nice stop before the play went awry.
'Well, it's gonna happen as the (starts) mount,' Snitker said of Schwellenbach having less-than-sensational outings. 'I keep thinking that he set that bar really high last year. But I like the way that he minimized damage today. I know teams are starting to be real aggressive early against him, because he's such a strike-thrower. I think that's part of the adjustment, too.'
Schwellenbach's average fastball velocity was normal and topped out at 98.2 mph on a third strike to Pavin Smith in the fifth inning, one batter after Schwellenbach gave up a two-out homer to Geraldo Perdomo on a 2-2 fastball up and in. His extensive pitch repertoire and his stuff haven't been an issue.
'My splitter's actually working better than it was the first three (starts),' he said. 'I feel the same. Feel like the pitches are coming out the same. Just kind of comes down to executing pitches in the right spot.'
As for the idea that hitters are jumping on his pitches early because they know he'll throw strikes, Schwellenbach said, 'I've said this before, if they jump on me, so be it. I'm trying to get on top of hitters and throw strikes. So I've just got to tip my hat on the early-count hits.'
After making his errant throw on a fielder's choice grounder in the second inning to put two runners on with none out, Schwellenbach gave up only a sacrifice fly before getting out of the inning with two groundballs.
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'I thought it was good that he just minimized that,' Snitker said. 'He's gonna continue to learn every time out. He's fine.'
Trailing 6-3 in the ninth inning, the Braves had two on with none out before Austin Riley grounded into a double play. Ozuna followed with an RBI double to cut the lead to 6-4.
After Matt Olson walked, Albies came to bat with two on and flied out to center to end the game, continuing his struggles in those situations. In the seventh inning, Shelby Miller pitched around Olson on a four-pitch walk to load the bases with two out and get to Albies, who popped out foul to the third baseman.
The Braves trailed 4-3 at the time, and a hit from Albies would've given them a lead. A walk would've tied it.
Arizona added two more runs in the bottom of the inning to open up a 6-3 margin.
Albies' popout in the seventh and flyout in the ninth dropped Albies to 2-for-16 (.125) with a .301 OPS when batting with runners in scoring position and two outs. He has two RBIs, one walk and four strikeouts in those spots.
Snitker was asked about Albies' struggles, particularly in RISP/two-out situations, and whether he chalked it up to a bad month for the veteran second baseman.
'You know what? I hadn't even thought about that,' Snitker said. 'If it is (a bad month), then yeah. But we know what (he can do). Oz has had 30 (homers) and 100 (RBIs) before, and can have some rough patches and still has a way of coming out of it. Oz is great with hanging with himself.
'He doesn't put a lot of pressure (on himself) and he has a lot of confidence and understands that this is a seven-month season and he can rattle off two great months and be right where you want him to be.'
Albies is batting .229 with a .664 OPS. He has four homers and 13 RBIs in 27 games, and in his past 10 games he's 8-for-41 with one extra-base hit (double) and three RBIs.
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This, while his defensive range and base running rank just below MLB average and his arm strength is the worst among all qualified infielders.
Despite their recent uptick in nearly every offensive category, the Braves are hitting only .183 with runners in scoring position and two outs, which ranks 26th in the majors. Their .606 OPS in those spots ranks 23rd.
Only Olson (15) has more plate appearances than Albies (14) with runners in scoring position and two outs. Olson is 2-for-12 with a double, six walks, four strikeouts and a .694 OPS in those situations. Not great, but certainly more productive than Albies.
Alex Verdugo has been with the team for 1 1/2 weeks and already has more hits than either Albies or Olson in those spots. Verdugo is 3-for-4 with three doubles and three RBIs with runners in scoring position and two outs. That included a fifth-inning two-out double to drive in the Braves' first run Sunday after Eli White continued his recent opportunistic surge with a leadoff double in the inning.
White has made four consecutive outfield starts and gone 5-for-15 with two doubles, two homers, six runs and seven RBIs in those games, and all of his teammates seem as thrilled about his performance as anything else in their recent success. The journeyman is that popular and respected among the other players and coaches.
'Yeah, it's been awesome,' Schwellenbach said of White's recent work and the opportunities it's earned him to play regularly. 'Last year, he'd get a chance, maybe late in the game, to run or play defense. It's awesome to see him getting this chance. And he's been putting some really good swings on balls and playing some elite defense for us.'
(Top photo of Spencer Schwellenbach: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)