DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — The Atlanta Braves put catchers Travis d’Arnaud and Alex Jackson on the injured list Sunday. D’Arnaud was placed on the 60-day IL with a left thumb sprain after getting hurt on a tag play at the plate in the sixth inning of Saturday night's game against Toronto. Jackson, who replaced d’Arnaud in the game, went on the 10-day IL with a strained left hamstring. Catcher William Contreras was recalled from the Braves' alternate site and started Sunday against the Blue Jays. Catcher Jeff Mathis had his contract purchased from alternate site. D’Arnaud has a .220 batting average with two homers and 11 RBIs in 23 games. Jackson was 1 for 23 (.043) in 10 games. Contreras, 23, made his major league debut last season, going 4 for 10 in four games. He was the 27th man for Atlanta's doubleheader on April 25 against Arizona. Mathis, 38, spent the previous two seasons with Texas. The 16-year veteran known for his defense has a career .194 batting average in 945 games. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. left Sunday night's 13-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs after experiencing pain in his lower abdominal muscles. Acuña led off the fourth with a walk. Kyle Hendricks threw over a couple times while he was on first, and it looked as if Acuña did something to his midsection on a dive back to the bag. He was checked by a trainer while he was on second, but he stayed in. He got up slowly after diving home to score on Travis d'Arnaud's sacrifice fly, and then was replaced in the field in the bottom half. “He’s got an abdominal strain, and we’ll know more tomorrow,” manager Brian Snitker said. Snitker said he isn’t sure if Acuña is going to need a stint on the injured list. “It was so late here that they couldn’t get the test that they wanted, so they’ll get it tomorrow in New York and, like I said, we’ll know more then,” he said. Acuña is off to a terrific start this year, batting .419 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in 16 games. The outfielder... [More]

CHICAGO (AP) — Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. left Sunday night's game against the Chicago Cubs after experiencing pain in his lower abdominal muscles. Acuña led off the fourth with a walk. Kyle Hendricks threw over a couple times while he was on first, and it looked as if Acuña did something to his midsection on a dive back to the bag. He was checked by a trainer while he was on second, but he stayed in. He got up slowly after diving home to score on Travis d'Arnaud's sacrifice fly, and then was replaced in the field in the bottom half. Acuña is off to a terrific start this year, batting .433 with seven homers and 16 RBIs heading into the series finale against the Cubs. The outfielder also had scored a major league-high 20 runs coming into the day. Atlanta has been hit hard by injuries early in the season. Pitchers Max Fried, Drew Smyly and Sean Newcomb and outfielders Cristian Pache and Ender Inciarte have been placed on the 10-day IL since Wednesday. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

CHICAGO (AP) — Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. left Sunday night's game against the Chicago Cubs after experiencing pain in his lower abdominal muscles. Acuña led off the fourth with a walk. Kyle Hendricks threw over a couple times while he was on first, and it looked as if Acuña did something to his midsection on a dive back to the bag. He was checked by a trainer while he was on second, but he stayed in. He got up slowly after diving home to score on Travis d'Arnaud's sacrifice fly, and then was replaced in the field in the bottom half. Acuña is off to a terrific start this year, batting .433 with seven homers and 16 RBIs heading into the series finale against the Cubs. The outfielder also had scored a major league-high 20 runs coming into the day. Atlanta has been hit hard by injuries early in the season. Pitchers Max Fried, Drew Smyly and Sean Newcomb and outfielders Cristian Pache and Ender Inciarte have been placed on the 10-day IL since Wednesday. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

.ATLANTA (AP) — Kung Fu Panda has made the opening day roster for the Atlanta Braves. The team made a flurry of moves Saturday to complete its 26-man group, most notably promoting nonroster infielder Pablo Sandoval to the big league roster. The 34-year-old Sandoval is a two-time All-Star and 2012 World Series MVP looking to revive his career in a bench role with the Braves. The portly switch-hitter earned his spot with a strong spring, hitting .429 with four RBIs in 35 at-bats. “Pablo speaks for himself, just the way he comes in, his professionalism, what he adds in clubhouse, the presence has, the respect he has from everybody,” manager Brian Snitker said. “And he can still hit. He's kind of what you're looking for. He’s a guy who can sit around and stay ready.” The Braves, who open the season Thursday at Philadelphia, also selected the contracts of two other nonroster players: infielder Ehire Adrianza and reliever Nate Jones. Former All-Stars Jake Lamb and Jason Kipnis were released,... [More]

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker expects to approach key pinch-hit situations with renewed confidence this season as he looks at the Braves' newly bolstered bench. More depth was added on Tuesday when the Braves finalized a $1 million, one-year contract with third baseman Jake Lamb that is not guaranteed. The signing adds another veteran bat to an already deep competition for bench spots in spring training. Lamb, a 2017 All-Star with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was with the Braves for their first full-squad workout and will compete for a bench spot. He could provide insurance for Austin Riley, who is expected to start at third base, but he was signed for his left-handed bat as a pinch-hitter. Snitker hopes Lamb can produce off the bench the way Matt Joyce in 2019 and Eric Hinske from 2010-12 were effective with their left-handed swings. “You get late in a game and you need a double-switch, he can be a very valuable asset much like Matt Joyce did a couple years ago,” Snitker said Tuesday. “He... [More]

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Baby Braves were the Battered Braves in their first loss of these playoffs. Now the young pitchers who had been so poised and effective in the postseason will have to try to get Atlanta back on track. Rookie starter Kyle Wright and the Braves gave up a postseason-record 11 runs in the first inning of a 15-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the NL Championship Series on Wednesday night. The 15 runs allowed in the first three innings were more than the Braves permitted in their first seven postseason games combined. And those 13 previous runs included seven scored by Los Angeles in the final three innings of Atlanta's 8-7 win in Game 2. The Braves will have to remind themselves they still lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 on Thursday night in the first NLCS with no days off since 1978, and the first ever at a neutral site, the home of the Texas Rangers. Wright gave up seven runs while getting just two outs after Atlanta starters allowed only five runs... [More]

A capsule look at the best-of-seven NL Championship Series between the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers in Arlington, Texas, beginning Monday night: ___ Season Series: Did not play. ___ ATLANTA BRAVES Record: 35-25. Playoff Entry: NL East champions. Playoff Seed: No. 2. Manager: Brian Snitker (fifth season). Projected Rotation: LHP Max Fried (7-0, 2.25 ERA, 50 Ks), RHP Ian Anderson (3-2, 1.95, 41 Ks, 32 1/3 IP, 6 starts), RHP Kyle Wright (2-4, 5.21, 30 Ks), RHP Josh Tomlin (2-2, 4.76), RHP Bryse Wilson (1-0, 4.02, 1 save in 15 2/3 IP) or RHP Huascar Ynoa (0-0, 5.82). Top Hitters: 1B Freddie Freeman (.341, 13 HRs, 53 RBIs, 51 runs, 1.102 OPS), DH Marcell Ozuna (.338, 18, 56, 77 hits, 1.067 OPS), OF Ronald Acu�a Jr. (.250, 14, 29), C Travis d'Arnaud (.321, 9, 34). Top Relievers: RHP Mark Melancon (2-1, 2.78 ERA, 11 saves), LHP Will Smith (2-2, 4.50), LHP Tyler Matzek (4-3, 2.79, 43 Ks in 29 IP), RHP Chris Martin (1-1, 1.00, 1 save), RHP Shane Greene (1-0, 2.60). Series Summary: Winners... [More]

After playing for three teams in 2019, Travis d'Arnaud felt sure he'd found a home when he signed with the Atlanta Braves last winter. Turns out, the fit was just right for d'Arnaud to deliver a postseason to remember. After homering in each of the first two games of the NL Division Series, d'Arnaud hit a two-run double in Atlanta's four-run third inning on Thursday that helped give the Braves a 7-0 win over the Miami Marlins and a three-game sweep of the series. D'Arnaud was 6 for 10 with two homers, two doubles and seven RBIs — the most by a catcher in a division series. He hit a high fastball from Sixto Sánchez off the fence in right-center for the two-run double. “That was like old school right there, just tomahawking the ball,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He just put an old-school hack on that thing.” Asked how he stayed on top of the high pitch, d’Arnaud said “I’m still wondering, too. I just tried to put the barrel on the ball. I got rewarded with a double that scored two... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — Picture this: The Atlanta Braves winning a playoff series for the first time in nearly a generation. That's certainly worth a few fake selfies. "I’m overcome with joy,” said slugging outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., who was not yet 4 years old the last time it happened. Acuña did his part to end Atlanta's 19-year run of playoff futility, driving in the first run — the only run that would be needed, it turned out — to spark a 5-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds, completing a sweep of the best-of-three NL wild-card series. “There’s a lot of energy there that’s contagious," Acuña said of his team. There's also a lot of heartbreak for this franchise, which is best known for managing only one World Series title — a quarter-century ago — during its unprecedented run of 14 straight division titles. Kings of the regular season. Chokers of the postseason. No matter where they played, whether it was Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium or Turner Field or their current home, Truist Park, the Braves... [More]

Orioles third. Austin Hays doubles to deep left field. Andrew Velazquez walks. Hanser Alberto doubles to deep left field. Andrew Velazquez to third. Austin Hays scores. Jose Iglesias grounds out to shallow center field, Dansby Swanson to Freddie Freeman. Hanser Alberto to third. Andrew Velazquez scores. Ryan Mountcastle out on a sacrifice fly to center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Hanser Alberto scores. Pedro Severino grounds out to third base, Austin Riley to Freddie Freeman.3 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Orioles 3, Braves 0.Braves sixth. Freddie Freeman singles to deep left field. Marcell Ozuna grounds out to third base, Hanser Alberto to Pat Valaika. Travis d'Arnaud grounds out to shortstop, Jose Iglesias to Pat Valaika. Freddie Freeman to third. Dansby Swanson grounds out to shallow center field, Andrew Velazquez to Pat Valaika.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Orioles 3, Braves 1.Orioles sixth. Jose Iglesias singles to left field. Ryan Mountcastle flies out to deep left field to Marcell Ozuna. Pedro Severino singles to right field. Jose Iglesias to second. Renato Nunez doubles, advances to 3rd. Pedro Severino scores. Jose Iglesias scores. DJ Stewart called out on strikes. Pat Valaika pops out to shallow center field to Ozzie Albies.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Orioles 5, Braves 1.

Braves third. Ozzie Albies doubles to deep left field. Ronald Acuna Jr. flies out to deep center field to Cedric Mullins. Freddie Freeman doubles. Ozzie Albies scores. Marcell Ozuna pops out to third base to Rio Ruiz. Travis d'Arnaud walks. Dansby Swanson reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Travis d'Arnaud out at second.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 left on. Braves 1, Orioles 0.Braves fourth. Nick Markakis called out on strikes. Adam Duvall homers to left field. Austin Riley singles to center field. Ozzie Albies flies out to deep right field to DJ Stewart. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Austin Riley to second. Freddie Freeman lines out to deep center field to Cedric Mullins.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 2, Orioles 0.Braves ninth. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Freddie Freeman doubles to deep center field, advances to 3rd. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Marcell Ozuna singles to deep left field. Freddie Freeman scores. Travis d'Arnaud singles to right center field. Marcell Ozuna to third. Dansby... [More]

Orioles first. Cedric Mullins singles to shallow infield. Jose Iglesias singles to right field. Cedric Mullins to second. DJ Stewart strikes out swinging. Ryan Mountcastle singles to deep left field. Jose Iglesias to second. Cedric Mullins scores. Rio Ruiz flies out to deep center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Renato Nunez singles to shortstop. Ryan Mountcastle to second. Jose Iglesias out at home.1 run, 4 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Orioles 1, Braves 0.Orioles third. Cedric Mullins walks. Jose Iglesias singles to shortstop. DJ Stewart homers to right field. Jose Iglesias scores. Cedric Mullins scores. Ryan Mountcastle homers to center field. Rio Ruiz grounds out to shallow infield, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Renato Nunez walks. Chance Sisco pops out to shallow infield to Freddie Freeman. Austin Hays reaches on error. Renato Nunez to second. Fielding error by Austin Riley. Andrew Velazquez walks. Austin Hays to second. Renato Nunez to third. Cedric Mullins singles to right field. Andrew... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. strikes out swinging. Freddie Freeman doubles to deep center field. Marcell Ozuna strikes out swinging. Travis d'Arnaud doubles to deep right center field. Freddie Freeman scores. Dansby Swanson flies out to deep center field to Victor Robles.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 1, Nationals 0.Nationals second. Asdrubal Cabrera homers to right field. Kurt Suzuki grounds out to second base, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Eric Thames strikes out swinging. Carter Kieboom strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Braves 1, Nationals 1.Braves fourth. Travis d'Arnaud singles to deep right field. Dansby Swanson called out on strikes. Nick Markakis doubles to center field. Travis d'Arnaud scores. Adam Duvall lines out to center field to Victor Robles. Austin Riley called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Nationals 1.Nationals fourth. Juan Soto doubles to center field. Asdrubal Cabrera lines out to deep right field to... [More]

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. singles to left field. Freddie Freeman pops out to left field to Trea Turner. Marcell Ozuna singles to center field. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Travis d'Arnaud singles to right field. Marcell Ozuna to second. Dansby Swanson lines out to deep right field to Yadiel Hernandez. Marcell Ozuna to third. Austin Riley strikes out swinging.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 1, Nationals 0.Braves fourth. Austin Riley pops out to Yan Gomes. Adam Duvall doubles to deep right field. Tyler Flowers strikes out swinging. Ozzie Albies singles to shallow center field. Adam Duvall scores. Ronald Acuna Jr. called out on strikes.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Nationals 0.Nationals eighth. Adam Eaton pinch-hitting for Michael A. Taylor. Adam Eaton singles to right field. Yadiel Hernandez strikes out swinging. Brock Holt strikes out swinging. Trea Turner doubles to deep right field. Adam Eaton scores. Juan Soto grounds out to second base, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Nationals 1.

Nationals first. Adam Eaton doubles. Trea Turner walks. Juan Soto doubles to deep right field. Trea Turner scores. Adam Eaton scores. Eric Thames singles to right field. Juan Soto scores. Brock Holt grounds out to shallow infield. Eric Thames out at second. Yan Gomes doubles to deep left field. Luis Garcia pops out to shortstop to Dansby Swanson.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Braves 0.Nationals third. Trea Turner doubles to left field. Juan Soto singles to left field. Trea Turner scores. Eric Thames strikes out swinging. Brock Holt grounds out to shallow infield, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Juan Soto to third. Yan Gomes singles to shallow center field. Juan Soto scores. Luis Garcia grounds out to shallow right field, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 5, Braves 0.Braves fourth. Adam Duvall strikes out swinging. Nick Markakis doubles to deep right field. Ozzie Albies walks. Ender Inciarte flies out to deep right field to... [More]

Nationals first. Victor Robles called out on strikes. Adam Eaton singles to deep left field. Trea Turner triples. Adam Eaton scores. Juan Soto doubles. Trea Turner scores. Asdrubal Cabrera triples to deep left center field. Juan Soto scores. Josh Harrison grounds out to shallow infield, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman. Yan Gomes flies out to left center field to Adam Duvall.3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 3, Braves 0.Nationals second. Michael A. Taylor doubles. Carter Kieboom lines out to deep center field to Ronald Acuna Jr.. Michael A. Taylor to third. Victor Robles lines out to shallow infield to Freddie Freeman. Adam Eaton homers to center field. Michael A. Taylor scores. Trea Turner walks. Juan Soto is intentionally walked. Asdrubal Cabrera walks. Juan Soto to second. Trea Turner to third. Josh Harrison reaches on a fielder's choice to shallow infield. Asdrubal Cabrera out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 4 left on. Nationals 5, Braves 0.Braves fourth. Ronald Acuna... [More]

Marlins second. Garrett Cooper doubles to left field. Lewis Brinson strikes out swinging. Monte Harrison strikes out swinging. Jorge Alfaro singles to left field. Garrett Cooper scores. Jazz Chisholm triples to deep right center field. Jorge Alfaro scores. Miguel Rojas grounds out to second base, Ozzie Albies to Freddie Freeman.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Marlins 2, Braves 0.Braves second. Dansby Swanson singles to deep left field. Austin Riley walks. Dansby Swanson to second. Adam Duvall walks. Austin Riley to second. Dansby Swanson to third. Ozzie Albies grounds out to first base, Garrett Cooper to Pablo Lopez. Adam Duvall to second. Austin Riley to third. Dansby Swanson scores. Ender Inciarte out on a sacrifice fly to deep left center field to Starling Marte. Adam Duvall to third. Austin Riley scores. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Freddie Freeman singles to right field. Ronald Acuna Jr. to third. Adam Duvall scores. Marcell Ozuna singles to left field. Freddie Freeman to third. Ronald... [More]

ATLANTA (AP) — The Braves have set the franchise record for runs in a game, and they needed only six innings to set the mark. Atlanta scored 11 runs in the second inning and kept adding to the total before taking a 25-8 lead over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday night.That was the highest run total for the Braves in their all-time history in Boston, Milwaukee and Atlanta.On Sept. 2, 1957, the Milwaukee Braves, the eventual World Series champions, beat the Chicago Cubs 23-10 to set the Braves' all-time record for runs in a game. The old Atlanta record was 20 runs, most recently against the Marlins on Oct. 5, 2001. Freddie Freeman has driven in six runs with a homer, double and single and Adam Duvall has hit two homers and driven in five runs.Ozzie Albies, playing in his first game since Aug. 4 in his return from a wrist injury, has three hits, including a homer. Travis d'Arnaud and Ronald Acuña Jr. have hit three-run homers. ___More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Braves first. Ronald Acuna Jr. walks. Dansby Swanson walks. Freddie Freeman doubles to deep left center field. Dansby Swanson scores. Ronald Acuna Jr. scores. Marcell Ozuna strikes out swinging. Travis d'Arnaud singles to left field. Freddie Freeman to third. Nick Markakis grounds out to second base. Travis d'Arnaud out at second.2 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 left on. Braves 2, Marlins 0.Marlins second. Garrett Cooper grounds out to shallow infield, Adeiny Hechavarria to Freddie Freeman. Jon Berti called out on strikes. Jazz Chisholm reaches on error to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Throwing error by Ian Anderson. Miguel Rojas doubles. Jazz Chisholm scores. Jorge Alfaro walks. Miguel Rojas to third. Corey Dickerson grounds out to second base, Adeiny Hechavarria to Freddie Freeman.1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 2 left on. Braves 2, Marlins 1.Braves second. Austin Riley lines out to shallow left field to Miguel Rojas. Adeiny Hechavarria singles to third base. Ender Inciarte triples to left field.... [More]