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ATLANTA – With newcomers like Adam Duvall, the Braves now have enough firepower to briefly persevere without Freddie Freeman. But as they try to extend their recent push, they are reassured to know that Freeman and Travis d’Arnaud are both expected to return to the lineup on Tuesday.
Freeman felt strong enough to return to the action late in the inning, and Duvall hit a key home run in the three-run sixth inning that gave the Braves a 5-4 victory over the Nationals at Truist Park on Sunday afternoon.
As for d’Arnaud, he spent the day catching for Triple-A Gwinnett and contributed a scoreless single. The Braves haven’t officially declared that the veteran wide receiver will be activated on Tuesday, but that’s the wait.
“Once we get Travis back, we’ll have a pretty good hitter hitting the eighth,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “I think it’s going to be pretty good training. “
With their sixth victory in their last eight games, the Braves now sit two games behind the Phillies in first place and a half game ahead of the Mets, now third in the National Eastern League. Atlanta has won back-to-back playoffs and would have swept three straight sets had it not been for the closest Will Smith to give up a two-run, two-run homer in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 3-2 loss.
Smith’s breathless save might have been avoided had Freeman not been forced out of Saturday’s game in the first inning due to an upper respiratory infection. The reigning National League MVP felt better on Sunday and was inserted to play on first base in a double change in the seventh inning.
“I spoke to him this morning before he arrived and I said, ‘We’re going to need you,'” said Snitker. “Really, it was a perfect kind of storm right there to bring him in.”
Freeman’s comeback came a set after the Braves built their sixth from three runs with Austin Riley’s RBI double and Duvall’s two-run homer over Patrick Corbin. Atlanta’s only points in the first five innings came via Ozzie Albies’ two-run homerun in the third.
Albies has been collapsing since early July, much like he did in a cold spell after his 2018 All-Star selection. So, it was encouraging for the Braves to see the second baseman showing a bit. of life with his bat. But the .665 OPS the batter has produced in his last 33 games still creates reason to wonder if he’s the best fit early on, especially against right-handed starters.
One of the Braves’ few concerns is whether to use Albies or Joc Pederson as the main starting forward. They have averaged 5.5 points per game in the nine games played since Duvall joined the squad on July 30.
“I can’t say enough [about Duvall]”Snitker said. “It’s so reassuring for me to see him there. Don’t worry about him.
With a pair of home runs in his first nine games with the Braves, Duvall reinforced a roster that continues to get significant value from Riley. The Atlanta daily third baseman kept the sixth inning alive with his brace against Corbin.
Riley has posted an OPS of 1.093 in his last 27 games dating back to July 7, but he’s had more than a short period of success. His .941 OPS in his last 96 games, dating back to April 18, is much more indicative of the impressive season of his season.
The Braves roster includes Albies, Jorge Soler, Freeman, Riley, Dansby Swanson and Duvall as their first six hitters. Pederson and Arnaud are a pair of powerful threats that will occupy the bottom two spots. On the days when Max Fried throws, this could really be the best roster in the game, one through nine.
Albies’ two-run homer wouldn’t have happened if Fried hadn’t extended the third inning with a two-out single. The left-handed pitcher improved his batting average to 0.324 (12 for 37) while allowing just one run on seven hits and one walk in six innings.
“I know we’re playing a lot better and we’re playing a little up to our ability,” Fried said. “Now it’s just about going out there and being consistent every day. If we play a full game, we’ll probably win more than we lose.
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