Home / Sports / Braves' Wild Lineup Shakes Up Playoff Opener
Braves' Wild Lineup Shakes Up Playoff Opener
29 Sep
Summary
- Dubon unexpectedly batting cleanup against a lefty pitcher.
- Yastrzemski starts at designated hitter despite lefty starter.
- Braves aim for early rally or strong pitching against Luzardo.
The Atlanta Braves unveiled an unexpected lineup for Game 1 of their playoff series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Mauricio Dubon, who has a .290 xwOBA against left-handed pitchers this season, has been placed in the cleanup spot. This decision comes despite his recent performance in September, where his actual production outpaced his expected numbers.
Adding to the surprise, Mike Yastrzemski is slated to be the designated hitter, even with a left-handed starter on the mound for the Phillies. This suggests the Braves are either anticipating a short outing from the opposing pitcher or have concerns about their options against left-handed relief pitchers later in the game.
The lineup also features Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop, with the Braves carrying both Rowdy Tellez and Dominic Smith, providing flexibility for pinch-hitting opportunities. The game, scheduled to start at 2 PM ET, will likely hinge on the performance of the Braves' key hitters against Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo and any subsequent relievers.
The Phillies' lineup includes Derek Hill batting fifth and Bryan De La Cruz sixth, with Edmundo Sosa in the eighth spot. While past head-to-head numbers between some Phillies batters and Braves pitcher Chris Sale exist, they are described as neither particularly good nor bad, suggesting batter-versus-pitcher statistics may have limited impact.
