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    Takeaways from Atlanta's 6-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday afternoon

    Despite Matt Olson's best efforts, the Cubs offense made the most of their opportunities in this one

    The Atlanta Braves dropped game three to the Chicago Cubs, 6-4, on Sunday afternoon in Wrigley Field, losing the series. Here's what you need to know from the contest:

    Matt Olson did everything he could

    Aug 6, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) hits a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning at Wrigley Field.

    The Braves first baseman was a man possessed today. Olson went 2-4 with three RBIs in this one, including his NL-leading 39th home run of the season to stake Atlanta to an early 2-0 lead. His 97 RBIs lead all of baseball. 

    Olson's been a man possessed since the All-Star Break, hitting .303/.415/.758 with 9 HRs in the nineteen games since the Midsummer Classic. He's now firmly in the top five of National League MVP odds, sitting with Freddie Freeman, Corbin Carroll, and Mookie Betts (all looking up at Ronald Acuña Jr.)

    For the series, Olson was 4-13 with two homers, six RBIs, and only two strikeouts. He's now collected RBIs in 9 straight games, with 17 total in those games. 

    Charlie Morton is having a...weird season

    Aug 6, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Charlie Morton (50) throws the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field.

    The Braves righty was charged with five runs on four hits and four walks in his 4,1 innings pitched. He struck out four, but was lifted with one out in the 5th inning when Cody Bellinger doubled to bring in a 2nd run in the inning and his pitch count already approaching 100 pitches. 

    For the outing, he threw 99 pitches, 55 for strikes, and took the loss, his 10th of the season. Morton's started 22 games and received a decision in 20 of them, with only two outings in June (7-5 win over the Mets and a 6-5 loss at Detroit) seeing him leave and the lead subsequently changing hands. 

    Morton's catching barrels 8.1% of the time in 2023, higher than the MLB average (6.9%) but still lower than he did last year (9.3%), where his ERA was a 4.34 as compared to this year's 3.86. His fastball is getting hit harder than ever, despite him throwing it less and with more velocity. 

    It's perplexing. 

    Dansby and the Cubs just executed better in this one

    Aug 5, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson (7) is greeted in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Wrigley Field.

    Atlanta was 4-13 with runners in scoring position and left ten on base in this one. Despite collecting more hits (Braves have ten, Cubs had seven), Atlanta was outscored by three because of WHEN those hits were - Atlanta had runners in scoring position and didn't bring them in FIVE times in the contest, plus saw Ronald Acuña Jr thrown out at the plate on a play that wasn't close at all (and the next two batters got hits, to boot, so Ronald still would have scored on one of the next two plays). 

    Baserunning blunders were a theme in this one, as Orlando Arcia also got  doubled off at 1st base in the 4th inning. Kevin Pillar hit a line drive to center field that Cody Bellinger caught on the run, easily making the throw to get Arcia, who hadn't waited to see if it'd be caught or not and was almost at 2nd base when Bellinger made the catch.

    Old friend alert: After former Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson got bested by Max Fried in game one, going 0-3 with two strikeouts, he hit a HR and had two RBIs in game two and went 1-3 with a double and two RBIs in game three.

    What's next for the Atlanta Braves?

    Atlanta's heading out of Chicago tonight as they continue their road trip tomorrow in Pittsburgh, with Spencer Strider (12-3, 3.61 ERA) taking the mound against Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 5.18 ERA) of the Pirates. First pitch from PNC Park is scheduled for 7:05 PM ET, and the broadcast will be on Bally Sports South.  

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    Dansby Swanson

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