DENVER -- During Wednesday’s series finale against the Rockies at Coors Field, the Braves’ lineup was the antithesis of what it had been in recent days. The offensive doldrums in a 2-1 loss to end a six-game road trip were a far cry from the 6.8 runs Atlanta averaged over the first five.
In fact, Wednesday’s production at the plate was so light that the Braves became the first team in nearly three years to score one run or fewer on three hits or fewer in a game at Coors Field -- the last had been the Dodgers on June 27, 2022.
But as they embarked on their return to Atlanta to open a three-game series against the Dodgers on Friday, the Braves are a different team from the one the Dodgers swept from March 31-April 2 in Los Angeles.
“No doubt,” said manager Brian Snitker. “We’re kind of more ‘who we are’ right now. I think we’re 9-3 in our last 12 games. I’ll take that any time.”
Snitker was right -- the Braves have won nine of 12 since beginning the season 5-13. And much of that has to do with the revived offense.
Wednesday’s difficulties against Chase Dollander -- Colorado’s No. 1 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- notwithstanding, that offense is returning to what was expected from a lineup with Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna, Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies in the middle.
A big catalyst has been the addition of Alex Verdugo, who has provided a spark atop the batting order that was missing with Ronald Acuña Jr. still working his way back from a torn left ACL.
But beyond the bats, there is also Wednesday’s starter on the mound for Atlanta, Chris Sale. His season thus far is perhaps the perfect microcosm of the Braves’ as a whole.
Over his first four starts of the 2025 campaign, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner had a 6.63 ERA and looked nothing like the veteran left-hander who also won the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2024.
But Sale’s next two outings were steps in the right direction -- in 9 1/3 combined innings, he yielded three runs while walking five and striking out 12.
Then came Wednesday, when Sale turned in a performance that the understated southpaw described as “better.”
Sale went a season-best seven innings and gave up two runs on five hits with no walks and a season-high 10 strikeouts. His slider was his wipeout weapon -- Rockies hitters swung at the pitch 27 times and missed on 18, and eight of Sale’s 10 strikeouts came via the slider.
Sale’s fastball velocity, which had dipped from its 2024 average earlier this season, averaged 93.4 mph on Wednesday, and got up to 96.8 mph.
Like the Braves as a team, Sale is a different pitcher from the one the Dodgers saw on April 1 at Dodger Stadium.
What’s changed?
“So I’d probably say there are three or four cues that I need to do delivery-wise, and I just wasn’t doing those early on,” Sale said. “Over the last couple starts, we’ve looked at video, done some analytic things, and even just looking at the numbers that are presented after outings and things like that, and just making these minor tweaks to try to get back to being successful.”
A major minor tweak was Sale’s arm slot, which he said had dropped, resulting in diminished velocity and poor results.
“I was starting to get a little bit low, so just had to get it back up,” Sale said. “And it’s showed, kind of, in my pitches -- my fastball, especially, was either getting cut off or flying open.”
Thursday is an off-day for the Braves, and then they’ll welcome in the Dodgers. Most times these clubs meet, it’s an elite matchup.
With a rejuvenated offense and an ace who is rounding into form, Atlanta will look not only to return the favor this weekend, but also to go on a run more befitting a club with its roster and pedigree.
“There’s a lot of confidence,” Sale said. “I know today was a tough day, but this was a pretty good road trip for us. … Our offense has been clicking, our pitchers have been able to go out there and minimize the damage and our defense has been spot-on.
“So this go-around, we’re a little bit different team.”