Takeaways from the Atlanta Braves Season-Opening Win to the Philadelphia Phillies

The Atlanta Braves opened the 2024 season with a win over the Philadelphia Phillies

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Atlanta Braves kicked off their 2024 season and NL East title defense with a 9-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in a chilly and windy Citizens Bank Park. 

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

Spencer Strider was dealing

Strider, making his first career Opening Day start, was dominant in Grapefruit League play, allowing only two earned runs across his 22.2 innings (and both of those came in his final inning of work). 

Things were much the same today, with the righthander allowing only two runs on three hits in his five innings, striking out eight and walking only two. Both runs came on a Brandon Marsh homer in the 5th inning. 

Unfortunately, Atlanta had yet to score when Strider left the game, so he wasn't able to get the win, but Adam Duvall's pinch-hit double in the sixth inning tied the game at two runs each and took Strider out of the running for the loss if Philly held on to the lead. 

Strider flashed the new curveball that was the talk of spring training, throwing the pitch ten times and getting two whiffs on the three Philly swings against the new breaker. 

Spencer Strider's Statcast readout from the start

MLB Statcast

Several of Philly's top hitters didn't do much against Strider, with Kyle Schwarber grounding out twice and striking out once, while Bryce Harper walked and struck out. The top four hitters - Schwarber, Trea Turner, Harper, and J.T. Realmuto - combined to go 0-14 on the game.  

Sean Murphy exits with injury

Atlanta's All-Star catcher from last season exited the game in the top of the 7th inning after injuring his oblique on a 1-1 swing. Travis d'Arnaud finished the at-bat and the game for Murphy, who was officially removed from the game for "left oblique tightness", per the team. 

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Murphy, who was 0-3 with a strikeout when he left the game, dealt with both a minor hamstring issue and the Atlanta heat down the stretch last season, but came into this season with many predictions of a Gold Glove and/or Silver Slugger season in store. Let's hope the tests all come back with good news and any absence, if needed, is short.

UPDATE: Murphy is going to require an injured list stint, per Snitker's postgame comments, with Chadwick Tromp set to be called up from AAA Gwinnett to provide catching depth.  

Atlanta's offense opened up on Philly's bullpen

Zach Wheeler was cruising for Philly, making it through with five hits and five strikeouts, but no walks or runs. But after throwing 89 pitches through six, Philly went to the bullpen, asking them to hold the two-run lead. 

About that. 

Atlanta put up nine unanswered runs in the 7th and 8th innings, thanks to seven hits, five walks, and a passed ball in the two frames. Matt Olson was the MVP of the day, hitting three doubles and picking up three RBIs on his 30th birthday. 

For the game, Atlanta finished with thirteen hits, including six doubles. 

Adam Duvall made his triumphant return

Duvall, who signed just over a week ago, pinch-hit for Jarred Kelenic in the 7th inning against lefty reliever Matt Strahm. The decision officially worked out, as Duvall got Atlanta on the board with a 2-RBI double. He stayed in the game to play left field and drew a walk in his 2nd plate appearance the next inning, coming around to score as part of Atlanta's massive 7th-inning rally.

Atlanta's bullpen handled Philadelphia's lineup

After Strider finished his five innings, the Braves bullpen handled their business. Joe Jiménez, Pierce Johnson, AJ Minter, and Aaron Bummer combined for four innings with only one run on two hits, striking out seven. 

The pitching staff combined for fifteen strikeouts of Phillies batters. 

What's next for the Atlanta Braves? 

The Braves are back at it tomorrow, with last year's Opening Day starters on the mound as Max Fried takes on Aaron Nola at 4:05 PM ET.