“We’re still alive” “Much needed but let's manage the bullpen better” - Atlanta Braves fans filled with hope after 6-3 win in Philadelphia trims NL East deficit

The victory arrives at a crucial juncture for the Braves, who are within touching distance of the National League East-leading New York Mets.

The Braves got off to a flying start and found themselves 6-0 up by the fourth inning. Vaughn Grissom’s RBI single got them off the mark before William Contreras blasted his 20th homer of the season to double the lead.

A two-run homer by rookie sensation Michael Harris II made it 4-0. It was Harris’ 19th major league home run. Dansby Swanson and Contreras notched RBI singles each to make it six.

Phillies slugger Bryce Harper went deep for the 18th time this year to reduce the damage. Nick Maton’s sac fly rubber-stamped the final 6-3 scoreline.

Braves right-hander Kyle Wright became the first 20-game winner in the majors this season. The 26-year-old went 5 1/3 innings and became the first Braves pitcher to win 20 games since Russ Ortiz won 21 in 2003.

The victory got even sweeter for Braves fans as the Mets succumbed to a 10-4 defeat to the Oakland Athletics. With both results combined, the deficit between the two NL East contenders is now down to only 1.5 games.

The Mets and the Braves will play each other three times in Atlanta next weekend in what is poised to be a title-deciding series.

Atlanta Braves face huge Strider setback

The Atlanta Braves placed starting pitcher Spencer Strider on the 15-day IL, backdated to Sept. 21, with a strained left oblique muscle.

Strider has been sensational for the Braves in his rookie season. He has a 11-5 record, with a 2.67 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 31 appearances, 20 of which have been starts.

He has notched 10 or more strikeouts in a game six times this season and twice this month alone. He struck out 16 against the Rockies on Sept. 1, and 10 on Sunday against the Phillies.

Strider is expected to receive medical clearance just in time for the postseason. If he doesn’t, it would be an enormous blow to the Braves’ title-defending aspirations.

Should the Mets win the NL East title, the Braves will need to go through the NL Wild Card Series. If Strider is unable to pitch by then, the Braves will most likely turn to Max Fried in Game 1, Kyle Wright in Game 2 and Charlie Morton in the decider.

About the author

Souvanik Seal is a senior journalist covering Major League Baseball (MLB) at Sportskeeda and began his media career at the age of 16. Since then, he has worked for some of the biggest publications in the world like Goal and Daily Mirror.

Souvanik also has an extensive background in Public Relations, having serviced brands like Eurosport, Spalding, Dunlop and Paytm. He has also managed PR deliverables for the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).

Souvanik holds an MA in Journalism from Dublin City University and an MBA in Sports Management from EDC Paris Business School.

His list of favorites includes Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro Suzuki and Alex Rodriguez, as well as Shohei Ohtani, Jose Altuve and Bryce Harper from the current crop. His favorite MLB moments include the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series in 2016 (ending a 108-year drought), the Red Sox ending the 'Curse of Bambino,' and the Arizona Diamondbacks reaching the World Series in 2023.

Besides speaking English, Bengali and Hindi, Souvanik is also fluent in French.

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