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    Takeaways from Atlanta's doubleheader split with Washington in Nationals Park

    The Braves split the Sunday doubleheader with Washington, while getting some regulars some much-needed rest

    The Atlanta Braves split their Sunday doubleheader with the Washington Nationals, dropping game one 3-2 but winning game two 8-4. Here's what you need to know about the contests: 

    Allan Winans continued to show up and show out

    Sep 24, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Allan Winans (72) throws a pitch during the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.

    The Braves put Charlie Morton on the IL on Sunday morning, ruling him out of the NLDS thanks to "right index finger discomfort".   

    Allan Winans showed that they have options. 

    Called up to replace Morton on the active roster, Winans went five innings with only two runs allowed on seven hits, walking two and striking out six. He took the loss, as Atlanta didn't give him run support, but he pitched more than well enough to get the win. 

    A lot of the conversation around Atlanta's potential postseason rotation assumes Max Fried will be back as the #1 and puts Bryce Elder as the #3 starter behind Spencer Strider, but if something forces the Braves to deviate from that plan, Winans has shown he can keep opposing teams to low run totals and keep Atlanta in ballgames, which is all you're looking for from a #3 or #4 starter. 

    Reliever Kyle Wright looked GREAT

    Sep 24, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Allan Winans (72) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park.

    Wright, last year's wins leader in all of MLB with 21, has had a season to forget. The shoulder soreness that necessitated a cortisone injection in January kept him out of action for three months of the regular season, and his first starts back didn't go according to plan. 

    But after moving Wright to the bullpen, seemingly acknowledging that he didn't have time to play himself back into starting shape, Atlanta's getting unexpected contributions from the righty. 

    Wright relieved Winans and pitched the final three inning of Game One, allowing only one run on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts. He took only 31 pitches to get nine outs, and may have cemented himself at least a bullpen role in the postseason with the efficient and dominant outing. 

    Spencer Strider is JUST short of the franchise's modern-era strikeout record

    Jul 8, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) leaves the game against the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh inning at Tropicana Field.

    Strider entered Sunday night's game two with 270 strikeouts, seven away from passing John Smoltz's 1996 season for the modern-era record in a single season. 

    He's still behind Smoltz.    

    Strider struck out four batters in his 5.2 innings, with four runs allowed on seven hits. It was an uncharacteristically low strikeout performance from Strider, whose previous low mark for strikeouts when he went into the 6th inning was six. 

    But he's healthy, and got the win, and he'll have a start at home against these same Nationals to get the Atlanta franchise record from Smoltz this upcoming weekend. 

    (The franchise record, as always, belongs to a Boston Beaneater - Charles Buffinton logged 417 strikeouts in his 587 innings in the 1884 season, going 48-16 in his 67 starts.  

    Atlanta did set some records in this game, though

    Sep 24, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves left fielder Kevin Pillar (17) hits a single during the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park.

    Game 2's win was Atlanta's 100th of the season, the first time they've eclipsed 100 wins in back-to-back seasons since 2002 & 2003, where they had back-to-back 101 wins seasons. 

    (Both years ended with Atlanta being eliminated in the NLDS, BTW, so let's hope history does not repeat itself.)

    Atlanta's sitting on 299 homers as a team - that's significantly past the previous franchise record of 235 homers, which they passed over a month ago, but it's also only eight homers behind the 2019 Twins (307) for most in MLB history. The Braves have six games left to play to break that record. 

    Matt Olson also hit his 133rd RBI of the season, breaking a tie with Gary Sheffield for the Atlanta record. The modern-era record is 135 RBIs by Eddie Mathews in 1953. As always, the franchise record was set by a Boston Beaneater, Hugh Duffy, with 145 RBIs in 1894.

    What's next for the Atlanta Braves? 

    Monday's an off day for the team. Tuesday starts a three game set with the Chicago Cubs, who are fighting for a Wild Card spot. Chicago's throwing their studs in the upcoming series, while Atlanta has Bryce Elder and two TBDs on the docket. 

    First pitch in Tuesday's series opener is scheduled for 7:20 PM ET, with the broadcast on Bally Sports South. 

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