Uncle Jesse makes his (spring) Braves return as the Braves add yet another tie to their Grapefruit League record
Listen, Jesse Chavez is back, and that’s all that matters. We ticked off a Braves Bingo square already. Hey, stop asking how he did. HE’S BACK, AND THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERS.
Spencer Strider was the biggest (non-Jesse) news of the day, making his second appearance of the Spring and since having surgery on his damaged UCL. He didn’t look as good as he did the first time out, but command and consistency, as one might expect, are the last things to really come back after such a layoff. It took 45 pitches to get through 1.1 innings, but he did strikeout 4 batters. The stuff is there, but it’s a reminder not to rush back from injury.
Jesse came in to start the third and pitched a few fairly uninspired innings, but it keeps with him coming in to cover the innings the Braves need as Strider racked up pitches quickly.
Ian Anderson pitched three innings and was … fine? To be fair to him, he came in to replace Chavez with a couple of runners on, which is a bizarre way for him to start an appearance. He wasn’t abundantly sharp, but at this point in the Spring and with his spot in the rotation basically assured, today was mostly about getting his work in. [UPDATE: As it turns out, this was his last outing with the Braves, as he was traded to the Angels immediately after the game.]
Jurickson Profar continues to be roughly what we thought he was. He can certainly hit, and he did add a two-run double late in the game to tie it up. But he also dropped an easy flyball, though the camera man is also in Spring Training and missed it by looking at the wrong player. But never fear! Someone caught it (not Profar).
Otherwise, the Atlanta Braves trotted out what will be their early-season lineup (minus Drake Baldwin), and everyone got a couple at-bats as they continue to get ready for the season. Nothing much to see here.
On the other side of the diamond, literally old friend Charlie Morton was getting his work in and looked pretty meh, literally and figuratively. I always appreciate that Charlie looks as happy to be at work as the rest of us. Dean Kremer came in after that to get in his final appearance of the Spring, and he mowed down 10 while walking 1 and still giving up two runs in really what is a “Dean Kremer” © start where his peripherals are great but still manages a meh ERA.
Ultimately, the score knotted at 5-5, and both teams agreed to end it after 9, in what is like the most Spring Training game ever.
Atlanta will head to the Chicago Cubs for their final two Spring games before the season kicks off on Thursday.