Takeaways From Atlanta's Chilly Victory Over the Chicago White Sox on Monday Afternoon

The Atlanta Braves battled the weather to get the win in the series opener

Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada (10) reacts after getting a base hit off of Atlanta Braves pitcher Charlie Morton (not pictured) while Braves first baseman Matt Olson warms up his hand / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves battled through the elements (and a lengthy weather delay) to take down the Chicago White Sox, 9-0, on Monday afternoon in a rain-shortened first game of a planned three-game series.

Here's what you need to know about from the contest:

Charlie Morton looked as good as he's ever been

Despite the cold, Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Charlie Morton went 5.2 scoreless innings against the Chicago White Sox on Monday afternoon. / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Given the weather at game time - temperature in the 40s and brisk winds - there were questions about how well the two teams would be able to execute their game plans when they were dealing with the elements making it hard to grip a pitch or accurately track a baseball.

Charlie Morton wasn't fazed in the slightest, going 5.2 scoreless innings with only three hits allowed, walking two and striking out six. After loading the bases in the first thanks to a single, a walk, and a HBP, Morton allowed only two hits and three total baserunners the rest of the way (and one of those three baserunners, Nicky Lopez, was erased when Travis d'Arnaud gunned him down trying to steal second in the 2nd inning.)

For the game, Morton threw 91 pitches (57 strikes) and was removed by manager Brian Snitker only when rain began to fall in Chicago, with Dylan Lee coming in to get a strikeout looking to close out the 6th inning.

Morton on the mound 🫡#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/KwdkbH9QyG

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 1, 2024

Atlanta's offense kept producing despite the weather

Atlanta may not have launched many homers in this one, thanks to swirling winds that reportedly got up to 20+ mph, but the Braves still hammered the ball.

Atlanta put sixteen balls into play and fifteen of them were officially "hard-hit" balls per Statcast - 95 mph or higher exit velocities. And the softest hit ball, a 68.2 mph groundball to left field from Jarred Kelenic, was ruled a single off of starter Chris Flexen in the 3rd inning.

Atlanta tagged Flexen for four runs on six hits in 4.1 innings, walking three times and with only one strikeout. Every single Braves starter picked up a hit in this one, with Atlanta getting six extra-base hits among their eleven total hits, including an Austin Riley homer to resume play after the 8th inning rain delay.

POST-RAIN DELAY RILEY!#BravesCountry pic.twitter.com/oEzhLKyvTW

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 1, 2024

We've gotta talk about Atlanta's middle infield...because they're RAKING

On a roster that returns the 2024 NL MVP in Ronald Acuña Jr. and the league's homer leader in Matt Olson, the two hottest hitters on the Braves to open 2024 have been exactly who we all expected: Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia.

Albies is 7-17 with two homers and a double on the season, having already driven in seven runs and not yet striking out. He would have had a third homer today if not for the wind knocking it down - putting three balls into play at 99 mph or harder, the two outs both had expected batting averages of .580 but were knocked down by gusts of wind for flyball outs, while the third went 371 feet and bounced off the right field wall for a double.

Arcia's right behind Albies for production this season, having gone 7-16 with four doubles. He's scored two runs and knocked in two RBIs from the bottom of the lineup as well as contributing great defense at the shortstop position. Arcia went 1-4 in this one.

In a lineup full of highly paid stars at the top, getting such great contributions from your "value-priced" contributors makes it one of the most well-rounded offenses in all of baseball.

The White Sox are, uh, not good

Atlanta's pitchers racked up eleven strikeouts in the game, held Chicago to three hits (two by Yoan Moncada), and, at one point, retired seventeen straight batters.

It's going to be a loooooong year on the South Side of Chicago.

What's next for the Atlanta Braves?

The goal is to get the two final games of the series in, although there are weather concerns all week. There are consistent forecasts for low-40s temperatures and a 90% chance of rain in both of the next two days, with whispers of snow possible for Wednesday. Tuesday's evening game (7:40 PM) and Wednesday's getaway day matchup (2:10 PM) are still on the books, as of now, and we'll let you know of any potential schedule changes that come from the weather.