The Astros will turn to Framber Valdez to stave off elimination in tonight’s fifth game of the World Series, while the Braves will kick off a bullpen game with another rookie pitcher. The Braves announced this afternoon that left-hander Tucker Davidson will get the start (or, more accurately, serve as the opener) in what will be Davidson’s first career postseason appearance, and only his sixth career games at the Major League level. Davidson was added to the Braves’ World Series roster as an injury replacement after Charlie Morton suffered a fractured fibula during Game 1.
Davidson made one start for Atlanta in 2020 and then posted a 3.60 ERA over four starts and 20 innings this season, with his most recent MLB outing coming back on June 15 due to a forearm injury. In fact, Davidson has only pitched one game total since that June 15 start, tossing three innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on the final day of the minor league season (October 3).
Though Davidson is one of the better pitching prospects in Atlanta’s farm system, obviously it’s anyone’s guess as to what he’ll be able to deliver on the mound, even in what might amount to just an inning of work. That said, given how the rest of the Braves bullpen has stifled Houston’s lineup throughout the World Series, Davidson’s task is just to avoid disaster and then turn things over to his veteran teammates.
The Braves followed this same script in Game 4, as rookie Dylan Lee worked as the opener and pitched to four batters, recording one out and allowing a run on a hit and two walks. Kyle Wright then entered the game to bail Lee out, and Wright proceeded to toss 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball. A scoreless inning each from Chris Martin, Tyler Matzek, Luke Jackson, and Will Smith later, and Atlanta sealed a 3-2 victory and a commanding 3-1 lead in the Series.
Astros hitters have combined for a meager .206/.291/.298 slash line over the four games against the Braves, with only Michael Brantley and Kyle Tucker showing any consistency at the plate. Starting the southpaw Davidson in Game 5 could be a preventative measure on Atlanta’s part against Houston moving the left-handed hitting Tucker up in the batting order, though the Braves have plenty of other left-handed options on their roster.
The lack of production from the usually-reliable lineup is the biggest issue facing the Astros, as their own pitchers have done a solid job of limiting Atlanta’s offense over the last three games, with only one victory to show for it. In Game 1, however, the Braves hit Valdez hard for five runs over two innings, setting up a 6-2 Atlanta win in the Series opener.
It has been a roller-coaster of a playoffs for Valdez, who has been very shaky outside of his eight-inning/one-run gem against the Red Sox in Game 5 of the ALCS. In Valdez’s other three starts this postseason, he has been torched for 11 runs over nine innings of work. With the season on the line for the Astros, manager Dusty Baker may have a relatively quick hook for Valdez at the first sign of trouble, as Houston will have every available arm at the ready to try and get the Series to a sixth game.
The Braves could be the first team to ever win a World Series on Halloween.
And the last team to clinch a title at home since 2013 (Red Sox over Cardinals)
Win a World Series, yes. But here are other World Series games won on “Halloween” night”: the Yankees in 2009, the Giants in 2010, the Royals in 2015 and Dodgers in 2017.
Of course the most famous Halloween game was in 2001 where the game went past midnight and Jeter got dubbed, “Mr. November”.
@antone and subsequently lost
Today also would have been John Candy’s 71st birthday, which brings to mind unique celebration possibilities should the Braves win. Let the mud wrestling begin!
The Braves are lean mean fightin’ machines!
Fudge. Would have been awesome if they won a spooky World Series.
I hope Davidson has at least been pitching some simulated games or getting in regular bullpen work since the milb season ended. I’d hate to think that he’d be coming in cold after 4 weeks.
@bham. Tucker threw 3 innings using 40 pitches on Gwinnett’s last game several weeks ago. I imagine if he doesn’t get roughed up right away he should be good for 3-4 innings.
Oh, gee, wow! Do you think that would’ve been a good move to keep him in shape? Golly, gee, I sure hope the Braves did that!
Yeah, I deserved that. My concern was whether he’d shut it down for a couple of weeks after the regular season and had to ramp up again, or whether he’s been on a schedule since the season ended.
I’m sure he hasn’t even picked up a baseball in four weeks. Braves said come on anyway. Jeez ⚾️
Chill buddy. He already stated he was wrong. It’s a punk move to pile on someone who does that.
Two key storylines tonight
1. This was supposed to be Morton’s start. If the Braves lose, we could only imagine what might have been..
2. Braves are up 3-1 again. In the LCS, they managed to survive. Will they this year?
I believe it is very fitting for the Braves to win tonight. Atlanta was robbed of the All-Star game this season. Winning the title at home will completely change everything!
I trust Davidson. He pitched well before he got hurt. I won’t be surprised if the Braves used Fried late, but don’t believe it is needed.
I want to comment about the usual suspects, but Snit insists on being Snit so I’ll let it go.
LET’S DO THIS!
The Braves would be better off just saving Fried in case they need him for game 6. If they use Fried and still lose it could really screw them. Better to have Fried and Anderson both rested to start 6 & 7 if needed. Don’t throw so many eggs in one basket when it’s not even an elimination game. Davidson actually looked really good when he was healthy this season. He could do a good job. If he does well they could just let him keep pitching.
Braves will burn everyone to win at home. And I agree. They need to get the trophy from manfred in Atlanta. Could be fate.
Let’s go Brandon will drown out anything if manfred is there ⚾️
I wonder how much money was lost moving the All Star game compared to how much money they’ve made in the World Series?
@jj: A group from the city of Atlanta sued MLB claiming that it cost them $100 million when the All-Star game was moved. If that’s true they probably have to win it all to just make it the same as if they kept the All-Star game. They definitely put a lot of money into ASG infrastructure and preparation that was lost. You would rather take the Championship over the ASG but clearly it would have been much better to just keep both. A lot of people say the Braves winning it all makes up for the loss. I don’t really agree because at this point it seems as if they deserved both so losing one of the 2 is still a net negative. It’s not like the Braves would have been forced to give up their shot at the World Series if they were allowed to keep the All-Star Game so I’m not sure why so many people are comparing the 2.
Well, same lineup but Soler leads off, and Rosario hitting fifth.
Albies still hitting third. Duvall is still in the lineup.
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In the offseason, should the Braves trade Acuna and Albies to the Diamondbacks for Madison Bumgarner so the Braves will finally make the NLCS?
Still stuck in 2020? Do you have anything new to add, or are you another baffoon who can’t come up with another comeback and regurgitate the same thing?
I’m still a firm believer that if Bum started instead of Milone/Wright, the Braves could have beat the Dodgers in the LCS. We will never know what might have happened.
Regardless, move on. I know you can’t because you are clinging to the only thing you have to argue, but keep trying.
And Bum in the roster last year, we wouldn’t have signed Ozuna to a 1 year deal. And this year with Bum probably not even playing, his signing would have prevented the Braves from making any of the trades that got us Soler, Rosario, Joctober, and Duvall.
could have, would have, if, this, and/or that… everyone can play that game.
I already acknowledged Bum might have been a bad signing. Clearly, some of you are still living in that moment and can’t get over it.
You are one of the biggest morons on this site. You talk crap about the Braves all season and say how they’ll choke. Now suddenly you’re a fan and want them to win. Go support another team you worthless sack
I bet you don’t even live here.
Grand Slam Duvall! Any smack to talk now fake Braves fan????!!!
Smack talk? Who is smack talking? He has been bad. That is an ingrained fact. He got possibly the biggest hit of the season just now. Good for him, good for the Braves.
It was his moment and he got it. Let’s keep going Atlanta!!!!!
YOU have been bad. Change your name again, and don’t you dare try to claim any part of this fandom.
As I said, I bet you don’t even live here. You like Alabama too? Cowboys fan?
@fudd, you don’t have to live here to be a fan. But if you want to call yourself a fan, you should probably avoid talking trash about every decision the team makes, constantly saying things like “that’s why we’ll never win anything”, and then try to hop on the bandwagon when we DO win. This guy can change his name as many times as he wants, we can still smell his stench and recognize that he is NOT a Braves fan.
@ StartSolerBenchDuvallMoveAlbiesDown
Wrong again. You’d never bench Duvall, you stick with your team, but you wouldn’t know about that.
StartSoler You’re a funny one to talk about regurgitating the same crap over and over. Why don’t you do everyone a favor and just don’t comment anymore. you’re a complete buffoon and you don’t even realize it.
Bench Duvall huh? Glad you’re not in charge. YouDontKnowMuchAboutBaseball.
You do know there’s this guy named Lance McCullers would be pitching tonight too right. Braves fans acting like they are the only team with injuries
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Davidson gets two good innings in tonight.
That would be a trick, but the treat is to win. It’s not “in the bag” yet
Tucker Davidson has also turned down an interview for the Mets front office job.
Small balls, batting averages, bunts, steals…pffffffft.
Atlanta is up 3-1 due to absolutely none of those things. They are hitting home runs. Not singles. & that has really been the story the last 2 postseasons. Hitting more home runs in a playoff game virtually guarantees a win.
Happened again last night.
Braves hit more home runs. Braves won. Matter of fact on only 3 occasions in all of the ’20 & ’21 playoffs *combined* has a team won a game when hitting fewer jacks than their opponent. So much for, “you can’t win in the playoffs by relying on home runs.” Indeed, teams can & do. It’s actually the best (& oftentimes only) way to put runs up.
The Astros pitchers haven’t been able to keep the ball in the park enough. The only game they did, they won.
But: Braves will hit a couple more tonight.
See ya, Houston.
Small ball: Maldonaldo threw out 40% base runners in 2021. d’Arnaud threw out only 16%
d’Arnaud threw one out in CF last night on a steal.
If I was Houston, i’d be stealing every chance I got.
d’Arnaud is a great blocking catcher, but bad at throwing out runners.
@curly. Only Altuve and Kyle Tucker are the only base stealers in the starting lineup for the Astros. If the Braves throttle Framber like the last game the game could be over quick.
Where’s Myles Straw? Siri has 3 SB. I’d send my grandma to test d’Arnaud’s arm.
Houston, no balls, they will lose
Ducky, you are probably right, HR is king.
To me, what a shame. I’ve been watching BB since 1956.
Getting runners on, moving them over, fake plays by holding the ball hidden. Steve Hamilton’s folly floater, Mark “The Bird Fidyrch (sp) & his antics. DH in the NL (puke). Love to watch good pitchers hit (Greinke as ph).
Now it’s strike 1,2 & 3 or a home run. I’m losing interest.
I hear that take a lot, @Curly.
Yet the importance of hitting home runs in the postseason is nothing new. Reggie Jackson didn’t become Mr October by hitting singles. It goes all the way back to guys like Ruth, Gehrig, Yogi, “shots heard round the world”, etc, bro. Remember Earl Weaver & “the 3 run home run”? Or Sparky Anderson “spiking” his lineups with home run hitters.
Teams face a lot of good pitching in the playoffs. Always have. Look how hard the Astros are working for their runs. I love stolen bases, man. But I’d much rather have a homer than a steal, uh?
I hear you Ducky, but I remember the cardinals & A’s who had incredible base stealers & they affected the starting pitchers & freaked them out. The strategy is leaving BB. The fences have been moved in & anyone can hit a HR.
Yes HRS were hit in the past by the special few. Now, my wife could go out & hit one.
Apparently the quantity of runs matter, not quality
This series can be won by small ball
Apparently your wife is a better hitter than I am, @Curly.
Small ball is not winning any postseason games at all though. Sure as hell ain’t going to win the next 3, man. I think what a lot of people don’t care for is that every lineup has a bunch of power bats in it these days.
The Yanks had became pretty one dimensional by this season. Some changes to our lineup/bench are in order. But make no mistake. I still want to see at least 7 guys who are legitimate home run threats on our ’22 ballclub. Similar to how your Braves are constructed offensively.
Good offense for October.
I don’t mind the home runs but the length of the games. In 1967, a great World Series, the average game was under 2 and a half hours. In 1975, a great World Series, the average game was about 3 hours with an absolute classic four hour game. In 1986, a great World Series, the average game was closing in on 3 and a half hours with another classic 4 hour game. And in 2004, in the most epic ALCS in the history of professional sports, the average game was finally over 4 hours. But that was 4 hours of deliciousness, the pounding in game 3 followed the most incredible four game comeback in the history of the universe. So, sometimes four hour games are worth every minute of sitting on the edge of your seat, wondering if Leskanic can get out of the jam, wondering if Foulke can outperform Mo, wondering if Bellhorn can go deep, if Mueller can get that single, if Millar can work the walk, if Roberts can steal, if history can be written with greatness and if decades of disappointment can be erased in a glorious 4 days in October. Indeed, it can. Have fun tonight, should be a good game. More baseball, less commercials please.
Enjoy the back & forth Ducky, We both agree to disagree. With the last 2 games being 2-0 & 3-2, I feel small ball may contribute. to the last game. It seems the bats are limp.
If they pound each other out of the park, I concede.
I love BB, but it just doesn’t do the same for me anymore.
A more cynical man than I would probably be tempted to point out that when the mets win/Yankees lose you don’t seem to care as much about the time, @hazee. I will just go ahead & assume it is a coincidence.
Has been a good series.
I think it ends tonight however.
I hope so but the Astros might go small ball and creep back into it. We’ll know by 2 in the morning. Maybe.
Freddie Freeman; “I got your small ball right here, fellas.”
Just the 4th time that’s happened in the last 2 postseasons. Typically, 2 jacks & 5 runs should do it.
However: no Morton. I know injuries are part of the game or whatever. We’ll never know, but good chance he makes that first inning slam stand up. Anyway. Didn’t work out tonight. Doesn’t mean it won’t in game 6 or 7. I still like the Braves chances.
That says less about the value of HRs and the lack of managerial diversity. All sit and wait versus pushing the game.
Dolly Parton. And back to Houston. Dang it. Oh well.
This aged really well. Seems you’re doing so good since coming out of the closet ducky
“…doing so good”?…uh….??
Anyway: yeah, didn’t work out tonight.
So ya got me there, @Marsh. For the above cited reasons, I still view it as the exception that makes it a rule.
Because it is.
But – hey – it looks like we have another Ducky Groupie, fellas. You guys should just start a little fan club. I can speak at your little meetings occasionally. For a nominal fee, of course.
Just let me know.
Why not just start Wright yesterday??
They were hoping to get one inning out of the opener, so that Wright could go fewer innings. He wound up having a better game than they anticipated, fortunately.
They didn’t start Wright same reason starting a left hander tonight want to keep Tucker lower in the line up as he is actually hitting and would move up against a right hander
The way the Braves have utilized their lefties against the top of the Astros order has been masterful. It’s probably been the key to the series. Braves fans need to give their whipping boy Snitker some credit. Every pitching move he’s made has been with that in mind. It hasn’t hurt that Bregman has been a total non-factor as have the guys hitting behind Tucker.
Hey Altuve, What about the buzzer?
…….and Baker still hadn’t managed a world series winner.
what buzzer?
It very easily may not be a win for the Braves tonight. Framber Valdez is a solid pitcher, looking to bounce back and the Astros don’t quit easily. I wouldn’t call it this early.
That being said, I want the Braves to close it out. Just might go 6 or 7 games.
Hey @Ducky, been working on my swing, don’t think I’m gonna have to “ lean in to one” with this series. Kinda feeling like what Reggie once said, “ What it means when you have 10,000 at bats, get 3000 hits……means you went 0 for 7000. Such is life. Oh well deer season opening on the horizon.
“Into the deepest part of the park…that one is going…going…”
Pretty much, @electraglide. Similar to how grouse hunters talk about “flushes” as opposed to how many birds we got. Failure is just simply assumed.
Here on the upper Mississippi:
– If you are not adding a limit/bunch of Canada’s &/or Coots, it is because you are merely choosing not to.
– Where are the greenheads? MN even suspended the season for a week. Hasn’t helped. I’ve seen 2 mallards all year.
– Which doesn’t effect me as I target Canvasback. Average numbers of them. But I can’t keep the Goldeneyes & Ringnecks out of my spread. They are ubiquitous up here right now.
Not sure if any of that is relevant to your season or not. Make of it what you will. Be safe during deer season & good luck, man.
Go Braves, uh?
also, would Davidson be the first player to make their postseason debut as the starter in the WS clinching game for their team? very likely the case in the post-exhibition era, and even more so in the championship series era.
In the 16 games so far in the LCS and WS, the 32 starting pitchers have thrown a combined 118 innings, or 3.69 innings per start. Of the 32 starters, only 12 have gone five innings and three at least six innings. The three ironmen are Framber Valdez with eight innings and Eduardo Rodriguez and Max Fried with six each.
This shouldn’t be a surprise as every pitcher usage record imaginable was broken in 2021, including pitchers-per-game and the total number of pitchers used. While 2020’s short schedule is part of the blame, the game has been trending in this direction for years.
Question: is this no big deal, or does MLB have a pitching problem moving forward?
A big lack of pitching, sad.
Hopefully it will be better next season, but I didn’t like how managers didn’t want their starters to face a lineup 3 times in a game and tended to rush to the bullpen. Taxing their bullpens and causing them to use more bullpen games. Taxing them even further. Just trust your starter to get to the sixth or seventh once in awhile.
Dusty Baker cannot seem to figure out if he’s wearing that face mask or not at all.
If the Braves lose this game, we know why,
1. Snit leaving Davidson in even though he was bad
2. Swinging at pitches nowhere near the zone. You watch the Astros and compare it to the Braves, it is night and day.
3. Astros stealing signs. That Mardanado at-bat was hilariously suspect.
If this series goes to Houston, I don’t know how to feel. The Astros will cheat their way to a comeback. Albies will likely be hitting third too to help the Astros.
There’s more trash in every post of yours than there ever was in the Astros dugout. If we lose, it’s because a great team had a great day at the plate. You have been wrong at every turn for years now; PLEASE stop pretending to represent Braves fans, take your avalanche of Ls and go home.
*Maldonado
Predictively, Morton’s injury did affect the team. Who knows what might have been if he pitched tonight.
Hopefully, Snit learns from Baker and switches up the lineup. He cannot be this blind like some people here regarding Albies.
Illegally stealing signs on the road? Doubt it. Illegaly stealing signs back at home to complete a come back? Absolutely. believable.
You are giving too much credit to a team that was already proven to cheat. They are now coming home. MLB loves they did not have to hand the trophy to the Braves in ATL. I’m sure they don’t care about the cheating and would rather have the Astros win the WS to “erase” 2017 disaster.
I still believe the Braves will win as Fried is more than capable, but if there is a team you don’t want to face in their home park, it is the Astros. Hopefully, the Braves are prepared because the Astros will do whatever it takes to win. We will be reminded by Smoltz about how great the Astros are at least 1000x more.
No, I’m saying logically speaking it’s much easier to steal and decode signs in an illegal manner at home than on the road. If you recall, the 2017 scandal revolved around centerfield cameras. The Astros don’t have a camera installed in other ballparks. That’s completely illogical and ridiculous.
Whatever there will be no convincing you. Still skepticism from both of us anyway, but I will not give benefit of the doubt to a team that was proven to cheat.
Fried needs to prove he is an ace. The Braves need game 6.
It was 4 years ago, do you still whine about the black Sox?
There is no benefit of the doubt or credit here, just logic. Like I said: I can see them cheating at home for a comeback and it wouldn’t surprise me.
Fair enough.
The mute button conquers another startsitbenchmovedown by far the worst poster here. He makes xaibal seem like a saint
Unfortunately the Braves did not clinch in Atlanta. Now it’s back in Houston on Tuesday. The stellar thus far bullpen let them down today after gaining a 5-4 lead. Gave up 5 to lose it. Fried probably pitching game 6 hope the guy actually shows up on Tuesday not the one who likes like him but pitches much worse. Anyway Braves need to get it done on Tuesday. I don’t like they’re chances of it goes 7.
Part of the pitching problem is “the new way” and part is injuries. There have been plenty of WS where some mediocre pitcher started. What’s weird about this series is that there are no real ace pitchers available. Each team has two top pitchers out. Very unusual.