TalkingChop 1 hour ago
Ronald Acuña Jr., then and now
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports The phenom hasn’t missed a beat overall in his sophomore campaign, but the ways in which he’s provided value have differed from his rookie production. Ronald Acuña Jr. had himself quite a rookie season last year. He finished with the most fWAR among National League rookies (in a tie with Juan Soto, 0.1 fWAR ahead of Harrison Bader) with 3.7 and took home the commensurate hardware at the season’s conclusion. He wasn’t the most productive member of his team, but still managed to place fourth (behind Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, and Mike Foltynewicz)...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop 6 hours ago 
Atlanta Braves News: Get well soon Charlie!
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Atlanta’s bench unit is dealt another blow. Atlanta Braves News Braves fail to sweep Nats again, drubbed 7-0 Atlanta’s road trip ended with a thud in a 7-0 loss to the Washington Nationals on Sunday. Max Fried struggled again in a short performance. It was still a productive road trip for the Braves who finished with a 4-3 record and reduced their magic number to four. They will enjoy an off day on Monday before opening a three-game series against the Phillies on Tuesday. Charlie Culberson done for the season The news wasn’t surprising given the...
TalkingChop 15 hours ago
Talking Chop Podcast Episode 184: Two weeks left
Photo by Mitchell Layton/ Eric Cole joins us this week. Good evening, friends. With only two weeks remaining in the 2019 regular season, the Atlanta Braves are in fantastic position. This week’s episode of the Talking Chop Podcast uses that spring board and TC’s Eric Cole joins the program for Episode 184. Topics include the following: The Braves are (officially) in the playoffs... even if the division race is technically still active Charlie Culberson will miss the rest of the season but everyone is thankful that it wasn’t worse Johan Camargo is going to be out for a while and...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop 19 hours ago 
Charlie Culberson done for the season
Photo by Carmen Mandato/ Not a surprise but another blow to the Braves’ bench It is not a terrible surprise given the situation but the Atlanta Braves will be without utility man Charlie Culberson for the remainder of the season. Brian Snitker broke the news during Sunday’s postgame press session following the Braves’ loss to the Nationals. "We got word he's done for the year."-- Brian Snitker says @Braves' Charlie Culberson's season is over, though the utility man won't need surgery after suffering multiple facial fractures. pic.twitter.com/gs3WytAW6n— FOX Sports: Braves...
TalkingChop 19 hours ago
Oh well: Braves fail to sweep Nats again, drubbed 7-0
Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports The magic number for the division remains at four. For the Braves, Sunday’s 7-0 defeat at the hands of the Nationals was a series of “couldn’t”s. The Braves couldn’t sweep the Nats. Max Fried couldn’t get back on track, and turned in an outing that, combined with his shelling in Philadelphia last time out, gave him his worst two-start stretch of the season. The Braves couldn’t get anything going offensively. The bullpen couldn’t strand Fried’s baserunners. Oh well. It happens. Fried’s undoing came fairly quickly in this one. He worked...
TalkingChop Sep 15, 2019
GameThread, 9/15/2019: Braves @ Nationals
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports Braves go for the sweep on another Sunday The Braves go for the sweep, Max Fried goes a bounceback, and the Nationals hopefully just go home and stay there.
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Sep 15, 2019 
September 15: Braves vs Nationals
Photo by Mitchell Leff/ Max Fried and the Atlanta Braves look to complete a sweep of the Washington Nationals on Sunday.
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Sep 15, 2019 
Charlie Culberson suffered multiple fractures, will be evaluated in Atlanta
Photo by Mitchell Layton/ Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker gave an update on the status of Charlie Culberson prior to Wednesday’s series finale against the Nationals. Snitker indicated that Culberson had suffered multiple facial fractures but looked much better than was expected. He also didn’t have to spend the night in the hospital and returned to the team hotel Saturday night. The plan is for him to be evaluated back in Atlanta at which point his status will be updated. Snitker said Culberson suffered multiple facial fractures, but looked much better than expected when he...
TalkingChop Sep 15, 2019
Braves lineup goes for jugular, sweep on Sunday
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports No Bobby Cox Sunday Afternoon Special here, no sirree Brian Snitker wants a sweep. Look at this Sunday lineup, after the series has already been secured. Gaze upon it. Behold. It’s the same lineup that paid dividends for the Braves late yesterday, and the Braves will be looking to sweep away the Nationals in D.C. for the first time since 2013. The Nationals throw Howie Kendrick and Brian Dozier into the fray against the southpaw Fried, using a defensive arrangement they’ve used eight times before, and a lineup they’ve deployed six times in...
TalkingChop Sep 15, 2019
Another Sunday, another chance to sweep the Nats for Braves
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports The Braves couldn’t finish off a four-game sweep of the Nats in Atlanta. They have a chance to sweep them in Washington. Over the past couple of weeks, the Washington Nationals have received ample opportunity to come at the presumptive NL East kings. They’ve missed, and missed, and missed. The Braves have taken five of six September contests between the division rivals, and have a chance to make it six of seven as the two teams clash for the final time in 2019’s regular season on Sunday afternoon. The season series between the two clubs is already...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Sep 15, 2019 
Atlanta Braves News: Postseason ticket punched, Charlie Culberson and more
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports Braves clinch a spot in the playoffs but may have lost another key bench piece. Atlanta Braves News Braves rout Nationals, clinch playoff spot The Atlanta Braves locked up their spot in the postseason Saturday with a 10-1 win over the Washington Nationals. Mike Foltynewicz turned in a strong performance on the mound while the offense broke out late to secure the win. The Braves reduced their magic number to clinch the NL East to four with the win and will go for a series sweep on Sunday. Charlie Culberson leaves game after being hit in face by pitch It...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Sep 14, 2019 
Brian Snitker on ejection, Charlie Culberson’s injury
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports Snitker gets emotional while discussing Culberson’s injury. Brian Snitker met with reporters following the Braves win Saturday over the Nationals. Snitker told reporters that Charlie Culberson was awake and alert when he departed for the hospital but that he didn’t have anything to report yet in regards to his status going forward. "You got one of your teammates that everybody loves in this room. So we'll just pray for Charlie."@Braves manager Brian Snitker was brought to tears when discussing Charlie Culberson getting hit in the face with a pitch....
TalkingChop Sep 14, 2019
Braves rout Nationals, clinch playoff spot
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports The Braves were quite good today. Mike Foltynewicz got started off on the wrong foot, but quickly recovered for a great performance this evening. Washington was the first team to scratch during the first inning when Anthony Rendon doubled home Trea Turner who walked to lead off the game. With an early 1-0 lead, Austin Voth went to work and was fantastic for the Nats. He didn’t run into any trouble at all until the 6th inning when Ozzie Albies, Josh Donaldson and Nick Markakis hit consecutive singles to tie the game at 1. For the Braves Folty was equally...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Sep 14, 2019 
Charlie Culberson leaves game after being hit in face on bunt attempt
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports In a scary scene at Nationals Park, Charlie Culberson was hit in the face on a bunt attempt during a pinch hit appearance in the seventh inning of Saturday’s game against the Washington Nationals. Culberson went straight to the ground and the home plate umpire immediately called for the trainers from the Braves dugout. Scary moment: Charlie Culberson just got hit in the face with a pitch after squaring up to bunt. pic.twitter.com/jYRGY0PaU4— FOX Sports: Braves (@FOXSportsBraves) September 14, 2019 Culberson was able to get to his feet and was helped...
TalkingChop Sep 14, 2019
Brian McCann draws start behind plate in game two
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports The veteran catcher will be in to guide Mike Foltynewicz today. Here is how the Braves will line up today. With the re-insertion of Nick Markakis to the lineup you can expect to see this lineup often with a rotation of catchers. Going for the series win this afternoon in DC!#ChopOn pic.twitter.com/r50B5og162— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 14, 2019 The Nationals will look for production out of Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto as the rest of their lineup has really struggled of late. Here is how they stack up this afternoon: Juan Soto in 12 September...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Sep 14, 2019 
September 14: Braves vs Nationals
Photo by Mitchell Leff/ The Atlanta Braves and Mike Foltynewicz will look to secure a series win against the Washington Nationals when they meet Saturday evening at Nationals Park. Right-handed Austin Voth will get the start for the Nationals.
TalkingChop Sep 14, 2019
Folty looks to continue recent success against Nationals
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports The Braves are looking to clinch the series win and reduce their Magic Number to four today. The Braves will be right back at it this afternoon with the Washington Nationals. On the mound for Atlanta will be the resurgent Mike Foltynewicz who is gunning for a postseason spot. His opponent will be the 27-year-old rookie Austin Voth. Voth is sitting on 27 innings pitch this season with Washington and has been fairly mediocre in a starting role. Voth has one plus pitch (his slider), but everything else is average at best and his command is somewhat lacking as...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Sep 14, 2019 
Atlanta Braves News: Nick Markakis returns, Johan Camargo injury and more
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports Markakis sparks Braves in return. Atlanta Braves News Nick Markakis, Mike Soroka lead Braves over Nationals, 5-0 Nick Markakis had two hits in his return from the injured list while Mike Soroka turned in a masterful performance on the mound in a 5-0 win by the Braves over the Nationals. Atlanta increases its division lead to 9.5 games over Washington and reduces its magic number to clinch the division to six. Nick Markakis returns, Johan Camargo lands on IL with shin fracture As expected, Nick Markakis was activated from the injured list prior to Friday’s...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Sep 13, 2019 
Nick Markakis, Mike Soroka lead Braves over Nationals, 5-0
Photo by Scott Taetsch/ Markakis records two hits in first game back. Mike Soroka turned in another excellent performance while Nick Markakis made up for lost time in a 5-0 win by the Atlanta Braves over the Washington Nationals. Soroka matched up against Max Scherzer for the second time in less than a week. Scherzer held Atlanta at bay in the first matchup as the Nationals avoided a sweep at SunTrust Park. He wouldn’t be as fortunate this time around. The Braves struck first against Scherzer in the fourth. Markakis got things started with a one out double and came around to score...
Kris Willis / TalkingChop Sep 13, 2019 
Freddie Freeman leaves game with elbow soreness
Photo by Rich Schultz/ Freddie Freeman left Friday’s game against the Nationals during the fourth inning due to soreness in his right elbow. The Braves announced that the move was precautionary and he will be considered day-to-day going forward. 1B Freddie Freeman left tonight's game as a precaution with right elbow soreness.— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 14, 2019 Freeman went 0-for-2 against Washington starter Max Scherzer. Charlie Culberson took over at first base for Atlanta. The Braves just got Nick Markakis back from injury and lost Johan Camargo who was placed on...
