Atlanta 'pen ready to rest, bounce back in G6

ATLANTA -- Clinching the World Series with a second straight bullpen game wasn’t going to be easy. The approach had worked in Game 4 to inch the Braves one win away from a championship, but they ran into a heavy-hitting Astros lineup in Sunday night's Game 5.

“That's just a lot of innings to cover against a club like this that swings a bat so well,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said following the 9-5 loss at Truist Park. “The good news is, we'll take a day off and be in good shape.”

After gaining a 3-1 Series advantage on Saturday, the Braves gave the starting nod to second-year pitcher Tucker Davidson in Game 5 as they looked to close it out at home. Davidson gave up Atlanta’s early lead -- built by Adam Duvall’s first-inning grand slam -- by allowing four runs (two earned) in two-plus frames. Veteran Jesse Chavez then tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings to bridge the gap to A.J. Minter, one of the driving forces of the Braves' dominant bullpen.

For only the second time this postseason, Minter didn’t shut out his opponent. The left-hander took the loss and a blown save after allowing three runs on three hits and two walks in one-plus inning, while also recording two strikeouts.

“My God, he's been so good. He's had such a great postseason,” Snitker said. “He had to work really hard. It didn't work. We were going to take that shot right there and see if we could keep the game in check and go from there, because we kind of felt like he was our best option in that situation, especially with [Michael] Brantley coming up, to maybe get it to where we could piece it together with the other guys.”

Minter replaced Chavez with two outs in the fourth, which he quickly ended by striking out Brantley. With two on and two outs in the fifth, he intentionally walked Alex Bregman to load the bases, only to allow Houston's go-ahead run with a walk to Martín Maldonado. Following a mound visit, Minter gave up a pinch-hit two-run single to Marwin Gonzalez, putting the Braves in a 7-5 deficit they couldn’t overcome.

“I wouldn't even call it a bad outing,” Minter said. “I felt my stuff was just as sharp tonight as it was in other outings. I felt like I was 1-2, 0-2 on every hitter. Those guys made quality swings on two strikes. I guess I could have made some better pitches with two strikes. … I'm not worried about it. I've been pitching good and feeling good, and I'm still feeling good. I'll be ready to go in Game 6.”

Minter is one of the members of the Braves’ “Night Shift,” a core of game-changing bullpen arms who could pitch in relief of Max Fried in Tuesday's Game 6. Minter (1-1, 3.00 ERA in eight postseason games) is the only pitcher among himself, Tyler Matzek, Luke Jackson and Will Smith who appeared in Game 5 and will not be on two days of rest:

Tyler Matzek
Last outing (Game 4): One inning, one hit, win
Postseason stats: 3-0, 1.98 ERA, 12 games, 13 2/3 innings, 20 strikeouts, 0.95 WHIP

Luke Jackson
Last outing (Game 4): One inning, one strikeout
Postseason stats: 0-1, 5.19 ERA, 11 games, 8 2/3 innings, nine strikeouts, 1.73 WHIP

Will Smith
Last outing (Game 4): One inning, one strikeout, save
Postseason stats: 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 10 games, six saves, 10 innings, eight strikeouts, 0.70 WHIP

The Braves will look for Fried to deliver a solid start and then let the “Night Shift” clock in for work. If all goes as planned in Game 6, it will be their last evening on the job this season.

“I feel like we're right where we want to be,” Minter said. “Yeah, it was tough having back-to-back bullpen games, but we have the pitching staff to do that. We have the pitchers to cover innings down there, and a lot of pitchers stepped up today. It's just one of those games where it was a battle for both sides. You've got to tip your hat for Houston just staying in the game, just battling the at-bats and battling hits, and baseball happened tonight.”