Atlanta Braves: Kyle Wright implodes in NLCS Game Three

Atlanta Braves pitching has been dominating the 2020 playoffs. Unfortunately, Kyle Wright brought that hot streak to an end on Wednesday night.

NLCS Game Three was over for the Atlanta Braves before they even stepped to the plate. Starter Kyle Wright threw one of the worst .2 innings I’ve seen in my entire life, let alone in a playoff game.

Wright was tagged for seven earned runs in not even an inning of work. He gave up five hits, two walks, and two long balls. And all of that damage occurred in just 28 pitches.

Absolutely brutal day at the office for Wright. And a complete 180 from the dazzling show he put on in the NLDS. In six innings of work against the Miami Marlins in the closeout Game Three, Wright racked up seven punch outs, allowed only three hits and didn’t allow a single run.

Even worse, Wright’s replacement, Grant Dayton, got shelled just as badly. He worked two innings of emergency relief, gave up eight runs on eight hits, three of which left the yard. The Los Angeles Dodgers opened up an 11-0 lead before the Braves’ first at bat.

Despite the fact that the Braves will still hold a 2-1 series lead, it’s hard to believe that the Dodgers don’t carry all the momentum now.

The Braves have been able to get away with a shaky backend of the rotation in short series thus far. But with Max Fried and Ian Anderson burned for a couple more days, the Dodgers can easily storm back into the drivers seat of this series. And should the series go seven games, the Braves may need to turn to Wright again, this time on short rest.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw will likely matchup with “Johnny Wholestaff” in Game 4, which doesn’t bode well for the Braves chances. Especially considering the fact that Wright’s inability to get out of the first inning on Wednesday will put a huge strain on the Braves bullpen just to make it through nine innings in Game Three. And with no off days in the playoffs this year, taxing the bullpen like this is absolutely disastrous.

Wright’s poor performance was exactly the break the Dodgers needed to get back into this series. And you better believe a team this talented will take advantage of it.