It’s do or die for the Atlanta Braves for the rest of the season starting tonight as they begin a three game series with the New York Mets, who leads them by two games in the NL Wild Card standings. Hall of Fame pitcher, former Atlanta Brave, and now MLB Analyst for Fox Sports John Smoltz joined The Morning Shift earlier today and explained what he thinks Spencer Schwellenbach has to do to be successful against the Mets tonight.
“You can’t pitch perfect but what you have to do is pitch as if this is a game seven. The reason I say that is because the teeter totter effect of this game pretty much is drastic right, like you win this game you’re one game back, you lose this game and now you’re really at a point where you can’t afford to lose another game the rest of the season.” Smoltz said.
The Hall of Famer also talked about this moment not being too big for the Braves rookie pitcher.
“You got a young man on the mound that is gonna be such a dynamic pitcher for quite some time as long as he stays healthy, and this moment probably is not too big for him. I’ve watched him now pitch and I’ve been so impressed with him and what he’s done and how he’s done it, so I think right man for the Braves, but they’re going up against a really really hot team.” John said.
The former Brave said the biggest thing he wants to see Schwellenbach do tonight is “keep the traffic off the bases”, and stay away from giving up that “big inning” to the Mets offense.
Both things will be vital for Spencer Schwellenbach and the Braves to be successful tonight in a must win game, and if the Hall of Famer and Braves legend feels confident in the Braves rookie then we all should, but Truist Park will definitely have a game seven like atmosphere for the next three games.
