Atlanta will wrap up its four-game series in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon. The Braves came up short in the first two games of the series, including a 9-1 loss on Friday. This story was published prior to Saturday afternoon’s game, which was the third game of the series.
Atlanta has been one of the top teams in the MLB during the second half of the season, but it is starting to look like the Braves are still going to come up short in the National League East. They rattled off an eight-game winning streak earlier this month before losing four of their next five games. Atlanta added another three-game losing skid this weekend heading into Saturday's game in Philadelphia. The Braves have already clinched their playoff spot, but they are 2.5 games back of New York in the NL East standings heading into Saturday's slate. They are on a seven-game road trip that concludes with three games in Washington next week.
Nice catch, man.#ForTheA pic.twitter.com/a9ke6lE5k7
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 23, 2022
Their offense still ranks inside the top 10 this season, but they have been in a cold stretch of late. Atlanta needs Dansby Swanson, Matt Olson and Austin Riley to get going heading into the playoffs. They are facing a Philadelphia pitching staff that is No. 16 with an ERA of 3.93. Right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton is going to be on the mound for Atlanta on Sunday afternoon. He allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out nine in 5.1 innings against Washington on Tuesday. Morton pitched into the sixth inning while striking out at least nine batters for the first time in five starts. He has been up-and-down in September, posting a 3.97 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 22.2 innings (four starts).