Takeaways from Atlanta's doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers

Atlanta was able to take both games of the DH, winning them the series

Lindsay Crosby | Jun 14, 2023

Atlanta won both games of their doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers to win the series on Wednesday. Here's what you need to know from the long day of baseball:

Game One - Atlanta 10, Detroit 7

Spencer Strider got roughed up for the second straight start

One start after being tagged for eight runs by the Mets in only four innings, Strider against saw a crooked number go on his ledger. Detroit hit three home runs off of him, getting an early 4-0 lead before Strider was eventually able to settle down, allowing only one additional run the rest of the way.

Strider's slider seemed to be betraying him, as he couldn't quite locate it where he wanted and was forced to throw more fastballs (and some changeups). All three of the homeruns were off of fastballs, with two left up in the zone and one high and inside (Miguel Cabrera's just a freak).

Strider's final line: 5IP, 7H, 5R, 2BB, 6Ks in 94 pitches (59 strikes)

Jesse Chavez left with injury, and it didn't look good

Key reliever Jesse Chavez was carried off the field in the 6th inning after taking a comebacker off the bat of Miguel Cabrera right in the shin. The ball, which left the bat at 99 mph, hopped once on the clay track connecting the plate and the pitcher's mound before catching Chavez flush in the left shin.

An extended absence for Chavez would put Atlanta's bullpen in a tough spot - just about every reliever has had their struggles at times this season except Chavez, who was sporting a pristine 1.55 ERA in his twenty appearances entering today.

Michael Harris II had himself a GAME

The second-year outfielder, who has struggled at the plate early this season after an IL stint for a strained back and playing through an hyperextended knee, went 4-4 in the first game. He singled twice, doubled, and homered, scoring three times and driving in four runs.

It's the continuation of a fantastic week for Harris, who seemingly had his turnaround in the Mets series and is 14-27 with seven runs and eight RBIs in his last eight games.

Harris has directly credited Marcell Ozuna for his turnaround at the plate, citing a conversation the veteran had with him during the Mets series.

The bullpen almost didn't hold the lead

Just two days after the Braves bullpen blew a lead in the 9th inning and the Braves lost to the Tigers in 10 innings, it almost happened again.

After Kirby Yates and AJ Minter worked after Chavez left the game to keep the Braves lead intact, Nick Anderson gave up three hits and a run in the 8th to narrow the lead. Raisel Iglesias again got the ball for the 9th and, in a repeat of Monday, he struggled.

Up 10-6 entering the 9th, Iglesias quickly got the first two outs and then struggled to put the Tigers away. Three consecutive hits - a single, a ground-rule double, and a single - scored a run for Detroit.

Thankfully, Detroit decided to pinch-hit for Jake Marisnick, who represented the tying run, with Jonathan Schoop, who ground out to end the threat and finish off the game one victory for Atlanta.

On the game, five Braves relievers (including Chavez, who faced only one batter) combined to allow seven hits and two runs, with six hits and two runs combined for Anderson and Iglesias in the final two innings.

Game Two - Atlanta 6, Detroit 5

Orlando Arcia wants that All-Star game start

Earlier this week we wrote that Orlando Arcia was leading the National League shortstops in All-Star voting.

He's apparently resolved to not give that spot up.

After going 2-4 in the first game of the doubleheader, scoring two runs and driving in two, he followed that up with two more hits and two more RBIs in the nightcap to power Atlanta to a 6-5 victory in game two.

Now batting .331/.383/.470 on the season with five homeruns, Arcia's held down shortstop and proved to be a more than capable (and significantly cheaper) replacement for the now-departed Dansby Swanson.

Ronald Acuña Jr pushed closer to that 40/40 season

Coming into the day, Acuña was behind pace for the 40 homerun part of a 40/40 season, sitting on thirteen homeruns and twenty-eight stolen bases.

Well, he hit two bombs to push him to fifteen on the season, in sixty-eight games, as well as stealing his twenty-ninth base of the season (and being caught stealing for the sixth time).

It's not a forty home run pace yet - the math works out to be thirty-six as of now - but it's closer, and a well-timed power binge can put Ronald back into striking distance of only the fifth 40/40 season in MLB history.

Dylan Dodd again cut it a little too close for comfort

The designated 27th man for today's doubleheader, Dodd went four innings with six hits and five earned runs, striking out only two while walking three batters.

Most of the damage came on home runs, with Dodd giving up three longballs. Thankfully, only one of the three walks came back to bite Dodd, as only the last homerun had a free runner on base.

Atlanta's bullpen carried a load in this one, with Collin McHugh (3 IP) and Joe Jiménez (1.2 IP) combining to strike out five with no hits or runs allowed.

AJ Minter came on for the 2nd time today and retired the final batter of the game, on ten pitches, to record his 10th save of the season.

What's next for the Atlanta Braves?

Atlanta's heading home for a short homestand, with the Colorado Rockies in town for a four game set beginning Thursday night at 7:20 PM ET. The game broadcast is available inside Braves Country on Bally Sports Southeast and is available on MLB.TV outside of the broadcast area. The radio call is available locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan or outside the Atlanta market on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network or MLB.com.

Other Stories from the Detroit Tigers Series
WATCH: Eddie Rosario launches a solo shot to give the Braves a late lead!
WATCH: Arcia drives in two thanks to a nifty slide from Ozzie Albies
WATCH: Ronald Acuña Jr hits his 2nd homerun of the day to extend Atlanta's lead over Detroit in the series finale
WATCH: Michael Harris II launches one to left field to extend Atlanta's lead
BREAKING: Jesse Chavez takes comebacker off of leg, comes out of game
WATCH: Ronald Acuña Jr launches a homerun to cut Atlanta's deficit in half
Lineups, how to watch Atlanta's Wednesday doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers
LHP Dylan Dodd called up to start game two of Wednesday's doubleheader
Takeaways: The Braves dropped the series opener 6-5 to the Tigers in extras
WATCH: Marcell Ozuna left the game after being hit in the forearm with a pitch
Lineup, how to watch Atlanta's series opener versus the Detroit Tigers
Podcast: Atlanta Braves start out June RED HOT

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Published Jun 14, 2023

LINDSAY CROSBY

Managing Editor for Braves Today and the 2023 IBWAA Prospects/Minors Writer of the Year. You can reach him at contact@bravestoday.com