PHILADELPHIA — On early Friday morning, BravesBrian Snitker, manager reached for his phone to dial Charlie Morton. The club’s brain trust had spent the previous days contemplating their Game 3 starter against the PhilliesAfter carefully weighing all possible scenarios and risks, Snitker mapped out the rest of Game 4. When Morton, the Braves’ 38-year-old veteran, woke up Friday, he was still in the dark, until Snitker delivered a quick message over the phone: He had Game 4.
Rookie won Game 3 in the National League Division Series Spencer StriderThe mustachioed flame-thrower who’s dominant campaign was halted by an oblique muscle issue, in September, and had not pitched in 26 consecutive days. Snitker would say that the Braves saw the decision as simple: Atlanta’s bullpen was restated after. Kyle Wright’s six-inning gem in Game 2 and a day off Thursday. Morton, the less predictable option, was awaited in Game 4 as an insurance policy.
The Braves wanted Strider to be on the field for four innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. The implication was clear: They did not want to risk throwing a rookie and his untested oblique into a possible elimination on Saturday afternoon — though by turning to Strider on Friday an elimination game is what they got.
