Instant Analysis: Braves 9, Nats 4
Atlanta scored five runs in the top of the sixth after Blake Butera pulled Jake Irvin, and the Nationals never recovered
Blake Butera made his first real controversial in-game managerial move in the top of the sixth tonight, pulling Jake Irvin after only 68 pitches with the Nationals leading the Braves. By night’s end, that decision – which was followed by a five-run Atlanta rally – loomed large.
The Nats jumped on Bryce Elder and forced the Braves starter to throw 32 pitches during a long bottom of the first that was capped by Jacob Young’s two-out two-run single to right. Daylen Lile added a leadoff homer in the fourth to give his team the lead and keep the pressure on Elder.
But Irvin, after coasting through three perfect innings to begin his night, gave up a two-run homer to Matt Olson in the fourth and started to labor a bit after that. When Atlanta’s first two batters in the sixth reached via an error and a hit-by-pitch, Butera made the decision to pull his starter despite his low pitch count. The move backfired when PJ Poulin and Brad Lord combined to give up five runs that inning, with some more sloppy defense also playing a key role.
After watching Ronald Acuña Jr. leave the game after twice getting hit by a pitch from Irvin, the Braves responded when Elder drilled CJ Abrams in the hip in the bottom of the sixth, prompting the umpires to issue a warning. Abrams calmly took his base, stole second and then scored on Austin Riley’s throwing error. But the Nats couldn’t make up the rest of the deficit and were left to stew over the events of the fateful top of the sixth.
HITTING HIGHLIGHT: The bottom of the first was fun, wasn’t it? And it all came with two outs. Brady House got things started with a single to center. Abrams and Lile then showed good patience in drawing back-to-back walks and driving up Elder’s pitch count no matter the end result of the inning. Young, though, made sure it wasn’t all for nothing when he took a 1-1 fastball from Elder the other way for a two-run single. By the time the rally finally ended, Elder had thrown 32 pitches and appeared to be on the ropes. Alas, the Nationals let him off the hook after that.
PITCHING HIGHLIGHT: No matter how his night ended, Irvin has to feel very encouraged by this start in total. Not only did he avoid his usual first-inning troubles, but he cruised through his first three innings, retiring the side on 34 pitches. He worked at a brisk pace and attacked the strike zone as well as he has in any appearance this season to date. Yes, he gave up a two-run homer to Olson on a 3-1 pitch in the fourth, a rare example of Irvin falling behind in the count and paying the price for it. But he rebounded nicely and made it through the fifth on only 60 pitches. The decision to pull Irvin two batters into the sixth was debatable, but it’s worth noting his velocity had decreased from his earlier innings.
NOTABLE: Josiah Gray “will undergo additional testing” on his injured forearm and is “not throwing at this time,” according to the Nationals. Gray was placed on the 60-day IL shortly before Opening Day with a right flexor strain. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since April 2024.
UP NEXT: Foster Griffin looks to keep his strong opening month going with his first career start against the Braves. Former Nats prospect Reynaldo Lopez takes the mound for Atlanta. TV: Nationals TV RADIO: 106.7 FM
Hot take: I've begun rooting for CJ to keep knocking the cover off the ball so that his trade value keeps going through the roof. I just don't see the evidence that he'll ever improve meaningfully at shortstop and it's hard to climb the mountain with Bad News Bears defense. If a GM would give Toboni a package with a couple of top-100 prospects, including pitching, pull the trigger.
I agree, Butera is too cautious with the starters to a fault. My main complaint with him so far. Irvin was dealing tonight tho good to see. Mark, please pass along that we want the high socks from him 5 games from now if possible! I think that’s the good luck charm.