Takeaways from Atlanta's Destruction of the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday Afternoon

The Atlanta Braves exorcised some demons against Philadelphia in the first two games of the series

Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves didn't score a lot of runs in the postseason last year. 

They've been trying to make up for it in the first two games of the series, following up their 9-3 win on Friday by absolutely BLASTING Philly's pitching staff on Saturday, winning 12-4. 

Here's what you need to know from this one:  

Max Fried didn't make it out of the first

Atlanta's Opening Day starter the last three seasons, Max Fried ended up moving to game two this season due to the way the spring training schedules lined up. 

And for some reason, Fried didn't have his A-game in this one. 

Fried left the game with only two outs in the first inning, having already allowed three runs and with two runners on. Fried threw 43 pitches (only 23 strikes), getting one strikeout and getting a second out on a popup to Matt Olson, but walking three. It was the shortest outing of Fried's career. 

Some weird things happened in the first inning - Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper stole 2nd and 3rd in a double steal, Fried slipped trying to field a foul ball (although he was checked out by trainers and allowed to continue), and an absolutely textbook middle-middle pitch was called a ball that extended the outing for Fried - but either way, it was a rough start for the lefty. Jesse Chavez came in and got a fly out to right field to end the Philadelphia threat and hold the Philly lead at one run. 

(The ABS challenge system used in AAA in 2023 and this season would have fixed this in ten seconds - let's go ahead and do this, MLB.)

Chavez ended up pitching three innings for Atlanta, allowing only one run on two hits. There's a reason Atlanta was willing to potentially lose Jackson Stephens just to add Chavez to the bullpen. 

Ozzie Albies hit the first homer of the season

With Ronald Acuña Jr. getting on base via an infield hit to start the first inning, Ozzie Albies launched a changeup thrown low in the zone by Aaron Nola into the right field seats for Atlanta's first homer of the season for a two-run lead early for Atlanta. 

Atlanta ended up coming back in the 2nd inning and re-taking the lead after back-to-back doubles from Orlando Arcia and Travis d'Arnaud, followed by Jarred Kelenic's first Braves RBI on a perfectly placed base hit through the right side. 

Matt Olson followed up with a solo shot in the 3rd, his first of the year, and Atlanta ultimately made up for not hitting any homers in Friday's season opener by launching four in this game - both Marcell Ozuna and Michael Harris II hit longballs late in the contest. Every single Braves starter picked up a hit, with five different hitters picking up three hits each (tying a franchise record), and the team finished with nineteen. 

Jarred Kelenic is SO back

Many hands were wringing across Braves Country watching Jarred Kelenic's spring training production...or lack thereof. 

But the offseason trade acquisition showed that the work he's been doing to incorporate the mechanical and approach changes dictated by hitting coach Kevin Seitzer was worth it - Kelenic went 3-3 in this one, scoring a run, picking up two RBIs, walking once, and making a great defensive play in left field on a ball that he honestly had no business even getting to. 

Jarred Kelenic finally realizing the potential that made him a Top 10 prospect early in his professional career could turn this lineup into one of the greatest in modern baseball history.  

What's next for the Atlanta Braves?

The Braves go for the series sweep tomorrow in a battle of lefthanders, with Chris Sale taking on Ranger Suárez at 1:35 PM ET.