Braves Country to Walt Weiss: it’s October

To be honest, to me a punted game in May is disappointing but somewhat expected. To survive a 162-game season over 6 months, you need to reserve your strength. You don't have to major in it as was done in 2024, and have it bear no fruit fruitlessly in the penultimate game. But it's a cost of doing business. To survive, you may have to utilize you 12th or 13th best pitcher on your roster more than you would like. Or in some cases, 17th and 18th best. We at Battery Power are aware of this because we write up every roster move.

Or this? Why is objectively your 12th best pitching option serving meatballs in a NLDS game?

We can't have this. This game deserved Dylan Dodd for three, Brent Suter for three, and perhaps AJ Smith-Shawver if necessary for three hitters or less. Then you see where you are in the seventh. If you are down, maybe downshift. If it's remotely close then upshift.