Soler's outfield struggles starting to raise alarms

ATLANTA -- Jorge Soler helped the Braves end their 24-inning scoreless drought in an 8-5 loss to the Brewers on Wednesday night at Truist Park. But his defensive limitations tarnished Chris Sale’s night and increased concerns about his ability to be an adequate outfielder.

“We knew there was going to be some rough spots,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I’m not expecting him to be a Gold Glove right fielder. To his credit, every day since we’ve got him, when I’ve wanted to give him a day [off], he’s wanted to play, because he’s that guy. We’re hoping the [offense] offsets [the defense].”

This has been a frustration-filled four-game losing streak for the Braves, who now sit two games behind the Padres and D-backs for the top spot in the National League Wild Card chase. They also hold just a half-game lead over the Mets in the battle for the third and final Wild Card entry.

Things felt different last week, when the Braves won six of seven and acquired Soler from the Giants within this stretch.

Despite the fact Soler had served only as a designated hitter for San Francisco this year, the Braves were confident he wouldn’t be a liability in right field. He handled the position adequately for Atlanta in 2021. But three years later, the 32-year-old slugger is either rusty or less mobile.

“I don’t think it’s been a difficult process,” Soler said through an interpreter. “I just think I had a bad game today.”

Here’s the problem. Marcell Ozuna is the Braves’ designated hitter because he is a below-average defensive outfielder. So Atlanta can only hope Soler improves defensively, because utilizing him as an outfielder is the only way to keep him and Ozuna in the same lineup.

Sale allowed three runs -- two earned -- and nine hits while recording 10 strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. This is certainly not what the Braves wanted after rearranging the rotation to allow him to make this start with two extra days of rest. But each of the three runs could have been prevented with an average right fielder.

This marked just the second time Sale has pitched less than five innings this year. His bid for his first Cy Young Award remains strong, as he continues to lead the NL with a 2.75 ERA.

“This is baseball,” Sale said. “You’re not going to be perfect all the way through. I know what [Soler] can do and what he’s going to bring to the table. I look at it more as an opportunity to pick teammates up when something like that happens.”

Soler’s leadoff double helped the Braves construct a two-run first inning. But he helped the Brewers get on the board in the third, when he fumbled Joey Ortiz’s two-out double in the right-field corner. That allowed Gary Sánchez to score from first base, with what was deemed an unearned run.

Rhys Hoskins and Sánchez began Milwaukee’s two-run fifth with consecutive singles. Sánchez’s liner landed just in front Soler.

“At first, I thought I was going to be able to catch it, but it didn’t happen,” Soler said.

Sale followed the catchable Sánchez liner with two strikeouts. So he easily could have escaped that inning in scoreless fashion. Instead, he exited after Joey Ortiz tallied a go-ahead two-out single against an 0-2 slider that was in the dirt.

“It was just a tough night,” Sale said.

Austin Riley picked up Soler when he hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth. But Pierce Johnson and A.J. Minter combined to issue four walks during Milwaukee’s decisive three-run sixth.

Having to go to the 'pen in the sixth wasn’t what the Braves envisioned when they opted to have Sale make this start with two extra days of rest. He has produced a 3.21 ERA over the 11 starts he has made with one extra day of rest. His ERA with at least two extra days of rest rose from 2.09 to 2.26 (eight starts) with this outing.

“My job is to pitch,” Sale said. “They pencil me in and tell me when they’re going to hand me the ball. I don’t mind if it’s five days, six days or seven days.”

Likewise, the Braves will continue to send Soler to right field. They can only hope Wednesday wasn’t a foreshadowing of what he’ll provide as an outfielder for the rest of this season, and possibly all of next year.