Braves sticking with same roster for NLCS
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Top prospect Cristian Pache will once again be available off the bench as the Braves spend this week battling the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Pache and 2012 World Series MVP Pablo Sandoval were both part of the Braves’ NLCS roster, which was announced Monday afternoon. The roster, which includes 15 pitchers and 13 position players, is the same one Atlanta used against the Marlins in the NLDS.
Pache was called into action early in Game 1. He subbed in for Adam Duvall, who exited with a left oblique injury during his at-bat in the second inning. Pache entered facing a 1-2 count and worked a walk from Dodgers starter Walker Buehler.
| Game | Date | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gm 1 | Oct. 12 | ATL 5, LAD 1 | Watch |
| Gm 2 | Oct. 13 | ATL 8, LAD 7 | Watch |
| Gm 3 | Oct. 14 | LAD 15, ATL 3 | Watch |
| Gm 4 | Oct. 15 | ATL 10, LAD 2 | Watch |
| Gm 5 | Oct. 16 | LAD 7, ATL 3 | Watch |
| Gm 6 | Oct. 17 | LAD 3, ATL 1 | Watch |
| Gm 7 | Oct. 18 | LAD 4, ATL 3 | Watch |
Shop for postseason gear: The Braves carried three catchers during the Wild Card Series but have gone with two catchers the past two rounds. Manager Brian Snitker indicated the plan is for Travis d'Arnaud to catch every game of the NLCS.
It was already likely d’Arnaud’s bat would be in the lineup on a daily basis, so this means the plan is to use Marcell Ozuna as the designated hitter in every game. Ozuna’s defensive limitations might be visible if he were asked to play the outfield at spacious Globe Life Field.
While sweeping both the best-of-three Wild Card Series and best-of-five NLDS, the Braves have not yet needed to use a fourth starter. But this best-of-seven series against the Dodgers will test the depth of the pitching staff in multiple ways.
Huascar Ynoa and Bryse Wilson, who were both added to the roster after the Wild Card round, are the top candidates to be Atlanta’s Game 4 starter. Both are also capable of providing long relief when necessary.
Because there are no scheduled off-days, Braves manager Brian Snitker will be cognizant of each reliever’s recent workload when making late-inning decisions.
Closer Mark Melancon, Will Smith, Tyler Matzek and Darren O'Day pitched the first two games of the NLDS against the Marlins. With the Braves up 2-0 in the series, Snitker was able to stay away from those guys and still have Shane Greene, Chris Martin, A.J. Minter and Jacob Webb available for Game 3.
Pache, who ranks as MLB Pipeline’s No. 10 prospect, will be available to serve as a pinch-runner and late-inning defensive replacement. His presence once again led the club to omit veteran center fielder Ender Inciarte from the roster. Inciarte, who hit just .190 during the regular season, joins infielder Johan Camargo as the most notable players left off the NLCS roster.
Sandoval signed a Minor League deal with the Braves after being released by the Giants in September. He hasn’t played since debuting for Atlanta during the Sept. 27 regular-season finale against the Red Sox.
Here is the Braves' full NLCS roster:
Pitchers (15): Max Fried, Ian Anderson, Kyle Wright, Tyler Matzek, Mark Melancon, Chris Martin, Will Smith, Shane Greene, Darren O’Day, A.J. Minter, Jacob Webb, Bryse Wilson, Huascar Ynoa, Grant Dayton, Josh Tomlin
Catchers (2): Travis d’Arnaud, Tyler Flowers
Infielders (6): Freddie Freeman, Ozzie Albies, Dansby Swanson, Austin Riley, Charlie Culberson, Pablo Sandoval
Outfielders (5): Ronald Acuña Jr., Marcell Ozuna, Adam Duvall, Nick Markakis, Cristian Pache