The Atlanta Braves have a 1-0 series lead in the NLCS thanks to the heroics of third baseman Austin Riley. Riley not only hit the game winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to win the ball game, but he also hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the 4th inning to get the game back even at two. However, this isn’t about the Braves exciting win in game one, this is about how they can follow up a great win with another great win in game two. Sam Crenshaw and Greg Clarkson kicked off hour three of their Sunday morning show by giving the key to taking down Max Scherzer and the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two of the NLCS.
The Braves are no strangers to Mad Max as he spent a majority of his career with the Braves’ im-division rivals the Washington Nationals. In twenty-seven games against Scherzer the Braves are 9-10, and Max has a 3.88 ERA against Atlanta. When it comes to recent matchups, in Scherzer’s last ten games against the Braves he is 3-3 with a 3.81 ERA, giving up forty-seven hits, twenty-three earned runs, eight home-runs, and eleven walks. By no means have the Braves been dominating Scherzer, but they have had some recent success against Scherzer, and Greg Clarkson thinks the way to take out Max is pretty simple. Greg says the best chance for the Braves to beat Max tonight is to “get to him early” Clarkson also says “If you get to this dude, you get him in the first inning then he’s not what you think he is, and what he’s shown.” Greg brings up a really good point, back in 2016 Max Scherzer gave up eight first inning runs in five starts back in 2016. Now, of course it’s understood that it’s 2021 now and that was a long time ago, but I’m not to sure those problems ever completely went away for Max, but a future hall of famer like Max Scherzer doesn’t have many flaws, so the Braves will have to take advantage of what they can, and Max gets himself into trouble early, the Braves must capitalize and make him pay.
Tonight is a huge opportunity for the Braves, as they can take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series, and really take some wind out of the Dodgers’ sails. If Braves fans are celebrating early in and outside of Truist Park tonight, it could be a great night for Atlanta and the start of a long night for Max Scherzer and the Los Angeles Dodgers.