Re: MLB The Show 24 Franchise Mode Discussion Thread
April 19-21, 2024
After a losing series on the road to the Houston Astros, the Atlanta Braves came back home to take on the Texas Rangers, the 2023 World Series Champions. This particular series, along with actually giving the Braves a chance against a loaded lineup, but scheduling even worked out that they faced Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer in it.
In that game against deGrom, the Braves got after him early and often, forcing a high pitch count even if they didn't end up getting on base. deGrom labored through five innings, not walking anybody but throwing well over 100 pitches while giving up six hits and four runs, including homers to Ronald Acuna and Matt Olson while Jared Kelenic smacked two doubles off of the incredible pitcher. The bullpen didn't fare much better, as Michael Harris would also find the bleachers with a two run shot later in the game. For the Braves, they nearly got an all-time dominant performance from Elder, who got into the ninth inning with less than 80 pitches, two hits, and one run allowed. After struggling with Corey Seager to start the inning, he would give up a single to Marcus Semien before Nathaniel Lowe took him deep on his 97th, and final, pitch of the game as AJ Minter would come to shut down the 7-3 win for the Braves.
Behind Scherzer, the Rangers would bounce back in the second game of the series. Scherzer was dominant, as his pitch mix just really kept the Braves out of rythym. Austin Riley would be the first to get big damage, as he hit his 16th home of the season in the fourth inning. That would be the only run that Scherzer allowed though, as the veteran completed five really solid innings before giving way to the bullpen. Dane Dunning and David Robertson went for three scoreless before Jose Leclerc came in to close it down, giving up one run before shutting the door. Spencer Strider was on the mound for the Braves, and while the stats are largely dominant, it was a game where he could not put batters away like he normally does, throwing over 100 pitches in his five innings while giving up one run on eight hits with 10 strikeouts. Tyler Matzek's early season struggles continue as he gave up three runs in the seventh inning in an eventual 4-2 loss to the Rangers.
Game three swung back to the Braves as the offense torched Nathan Eovaldi and put the game away early. One of the big swings came from Riley, who hit his 17th homer of the season (a grandslam in the second) and 15th of April, which ties the franchise record for homers in a month with eight games left to break it. Matt Olson would join him in the bleachers, while Ozzie Albies and Kelenic also found extra base hits of their own as the Braves scored eight runs. Max Fried wasn't eligible for the win as command troubles kept him from completing the fifth inning despite only allowed two runs, but a bullpen combination of Pierce Johnson, Dylan Lee, and Matzek pitched well as the Braves take the series with an 8-3 win.
Austin Riley did get pulled from this game in the sixth inning with a pulled groin that might cost him up to a week as he looks to break that home run record and perhaps reach for the MLB record. In his place, the Braves will be rolling with David Fletcher until the slugger is back.
Up next for the Braves (13-9) is another series with the Marlins (9-14). The Braves are currently two games up in the NL East.
Riley With a Chance at History, Braves Down Champion Rangers in Home Series
April 19-21, 2024
After a losing series on the road to the Houston Astros, the Atlanta Braves came back home to take on the Texas Rangers, the 2023 World Series Champions. This particular series, along with actually giving the Braves a chance against a loaded lineup, but scheduling even worked out that they faced Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer in it.
In that game against deGrom, the Braves got after him early and often, forcing a high pitch count even if they didn't end up getting on base. deGrom labored through five innings, not walking anybody but throwing well over 100 pitches while giving up six hits and four runs, including homers to Ronald Acuna and Matt Olson while Jared Kelenic smacked two doubles off of the incredible pitcher. The bullpen didn't fare much better, as Michael Harris would also find the bleachers with a two run shot later in the game. For the Braves, they nearly got an all-time dominant performance from Elder, who got into the ninth inning with less than 80 pitches, two hits, and one run allowed. After struggling with Corey Seager to start the inning, he would give up a single to Marcus Semien before Nathaniel Lowe took him deep on his 97th, and final, pitch of the game as AJ Minter would come to shut down the 7-3 win for the Braves.
Behind Scherzer, the Rangers would bounce back in the second game of the series. Scherzer was dominant, as his pitch mix just really kept the Braves out of rythym. Austin Riley would be the first to get big damage, as he hit his 16th home of the season in the fourth inning. That would be the only run that Scherzer allowed though, as the veteran completed five really solid innings before giving way to the bullpen. Dane Dunning and David Robertson went for three scoreless before Jose Leclerc came in to close it down, giving up one run before shutting the door. Spencer Strider was on the mound for the Braves, and while the stats are largely dominant, it was a game where he could not put batters away like he normally does, throwing over 100 pitches in his five innings while giving up one run on eight hits with 10 strikeouts. Tyler Matzek's early season struggles continue as he gave up three runs in the seventh inning in an eventual 4-2 loss to the Rangers.
Game three swung back to the Braves as the offense torched Nathan Eovaldi and put the game away early. One of the big swings came from Riley, who hit his 17th homer of the season (a grandslam in the second) and 15th of April, which ties the franchise record for homers in a month with eight games left to break it. Matt Olson would join him in the bleachers, while Ozzie Albies and Kelenic also found extra base hits of their own as the Braves scored eight runs. Max Fried wasn't eligible for the win as command troubles kept him from completing the fifth inning despite only allowed two runs, but a bullpen combination of Pierce Johnson, Dylan Lee, and Matzek pitched well as the Braves take the series with an 8-3 win.
Austin Riley did get pulled from this game in the sixth inning with a pulled groin that might cost him up to a week as he looks to break that home run record and perhaps reach for the MLB record. In his place, the Braves will be rolling with David Fletcher until the slugger is back.
Up next for the Braves (13-9) is another series with the Marlins (9-14). The Braves are currently two games up in the NL East.
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