Why September return of Nick Markakis could possibly be Braves’ October difference-maker

WASHINGTON — It is a basic case of addition by addition.

The Atlanta Braves bought Nick Markakis again on Friday. In associated information, they only turned an ever extra harmful October out.

Enjoying in his first sport since struggling a fractured wrist on July 26, Markakis was all over. Going through Nationals ace Max Scherzer within the second inning, he lined a single to heart area. In his subsequent journey towards the three-time Cy Younger winner, Markakis laced a double to heart and got here round to attain the Braves’ first run of the sport. Within the fifth, he got here up with the bases loaded and simply barely missed hitting a grand slam, as an alternative settling for a 385-foot sac fly that despatched Nats outfielder Victor Robles all the way in which to the wall in left-center and prolonged Atlanta’s result in Three-Zero.

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“I used to be simply up there attempting to get comfy once more,” mentioned Markakis, who was hitting .284 with a .787 OPS on the time of his damage. “Your first sport again after seven weeks towards a pitcher like that isn’t the best feat, so I used to be happy. Did not see as many pitches as I might prefer to, however after I did see my pitch, I attempted to not miss it.”

He did not miss a lot of something within the outfield both.

With Atlanta and rookie starter Mike Soroka main 2-Zero within the backside of the fourth, following a leadoff double by Adam Eaton, Nats MVP candidate Anthony Rendon lifted a fly ball to the hole between left and heart. Markakis, a proper fielder by commerce who was taking part in left area for the primary time this yr, and heart fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. converged on the ball and confusion ensued. In the long run, it was Markakis who ended up laying out and making an acrobatic, albeit avoidable, backhanded seize that saved Washington scoreless and virtually resulted in him getting trampled by Acuna. An inning later, Markakis was on the bottom once more, sliding to his knees in shallow left to deprive Robles of a leadoff single.

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In typical Markakis style, neither play was a murals (nor was the ball that bought below his glove within the seventh and was charitably dominated a double). However contemplating that Markakis has now performed a grand whole of 4 video games in left area over the past 12 years, the Braves will gladly dwell with it. Similar to they’re going to gladly dwell with having Markakis again within the lineup.

Within the seven weeks since Markakis suffered that damaged wrist, the Braves’ outfield has been one thing of a large number. Austin Riley, who got here out of nowhere to win Rookie of the Month in Could, got here crashing again to earth after which landed on the injured listing with a sprained knee in early August. Opening Day heart fielder Ender Inciarte, who missed two months with a lumbar pressure and returned shortly earlier than Markakis bought harm, hit the IL once more in mid-August with a balky hamstring. Riley and veteran reserve Adam Duvall, a pair of right-handed hitters, have been good towards southpaws however cannot be trusted towards righties, and lefty swinger Matt Joyce has been the alternative. If not for Acuna, who has performed all three positions (not on the similar time) and is threatening to hitch the unique 40-40 membership, Atlanta’s outfield may need collapsed on itself and was a certifiable black gap. Or one thing like that. Now, with Markakis again, the Braves’ universe is measurably extra copacetic.

“My god,” mentioned supervisor Brian Snitker following Markakis’ reentry into Atlanta’s ambiance. “It is simply one thing else. One dwell BP, and two of the hardest-hit balls he is most likely had all yr. And made a pair very nice performs in left. The man’s a ballplayer. It is large for our lineup and our workforce to have him again in there.”

To be clear, the “large” that Snitker refers to is extra concerning the future than the previous. Regardless of the disarray within the outfield, the Braves did simply high-quality, thanks, with out their veteran outfielder. Actually, their 30-14 document throughout Markakis’ absence was tops within the Nationwide League and a couple of.5 video games higher than the mighty Dodgers. Over that stretch, they managed to increase their division lead by three video games over a Washington workforce that was as scorching as any within the league. However that was then and that is now: To ensure that the Braves to perform their objectives, from overtaking Los Angeles for prime seed within the NL to profitable a playoff collection for the primary time in almost 20 years (2001 was the final time) to going all the way in which, they’re going to want all arms on deck. On Friday, they added another very succesful pair of arms.

“It was superior to have Kakes again,” Soroka mentioned. “I do know he actually needed to come back again and make an impression, and I believe he did that proper off the bat. That gave us just a little life.”

Extra importantly, it gave Atlanta a fair higher likelihood in October.