Brian Snitker, Braves trying to remain loose heading into pivotal Game 4

Facing a challenging task in Game 4, the Atlanta Braves only need to win one game to bring the series back to Atlanta.

• By
  
  Kris Willis
  
• on October 12, 2023 6:13 pm

The Atlanta Braves fully grasp the situation and are not implementing any drastic changes to their preparation for Game 4 against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Braves need a victory to bring the series back to Atlanta for a decisive Game 5. Losing would be a disappointing conclusion to an otherwise remarkable season.

“When entering the postseason, most of the players in our team have experienced every possible scenario, including Game 7s, elimination games, and high-stakes World Series matchups,” said Snitker, emphasizing the Braves’ playoff experience. “Right now, we only need to win one game. We don’t need to win two, just one.”

Before the series, the main questions revolved around the pitching staff. Would Max Fried recover? Who would start Game 3 without Charlie Morton? Is the bullpen good enough? While the pitching staff has performed decently, the vaunted offense has not provided sufficient support. In anticipation of Game 1 against Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez, Snitker made changes to the lineup. However, the Braves were shut out in a home game for the first time since 2021. For Game 4, Snitker has decided to stick with the regular lineup, with Ozzie Albies hitting second.

“After making those adjustments and evaluating the overall flow, I decided we should stay with our current approach,” Snitker explained.

No one could have predicted the extent of Atlanta’s offensive struggles in the first three games of the series. Austin Riley mentioned before the game that he believes the players are pressing and trying too hard. Snitker expressed his belief that all it takes is one big hit or one big inning to get the momentum back on track.

“I saw it when we scored a run the other day in Game 2,” Snitker said. “It had an impact. Players are human, and they want to perform well. We’ve had success before, and we will have it again. Hopefully, it happens tonight. But I believe that one significant hit, like a pivotal two-out hit, can shift the momentum in the right direction.”

While the Phillies have appeared relaxed and confident, the Braves have seemed shaken at times. When asked about the clubhouse leader following the departures of key players Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson, Snitker refrained from naming individuals and pointed to the numerous players who fulfill leadership roles in Atlanta’s clubhouse.

“I believe there are many leaders in our team,” Snitker said. “We don’t rely on just one person. That’s what makes us great and our clubhouse strong. There’s a solid group of players who are willing and capable of taking on that role. It’s not about one individual in our well-constructed team.”

Charlie Morton update

When Charlie Morton was placed on the injured list, the hope was that he would recover in time for the NLCS if the Braves advanced. Brian Snitker confirmed on Thursday that Morton is throwing, but he hasn’t tested his injured finger by throwing a breaking ball yet.

“He’s been throwing, doing catch, long toss, and throwing sides,” Snitker revealed. “I’m not sure if he’s thrown a proper breaking ball. Hopefully, we’ll reach a point where we can decide on that.”