After the first two Sundays of the regular season, the struggles that begot most of the regular members of the Atlanta Braves line-up – combined with two dazzling starts by pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach – made Schwellenbach an easy choice for Battery Power’s Player of the Week.
Finally, in the season’s third week, the choice was much more difficult.
Thankfully.
Schwellenbach produced another fine outing – although he wasn’t as dominate as his first two starts. After allowing no earned runs and only three hits in his first 14 innings pitched, his third start saw him allow a run on a home run – one of seven hits he allowed in six innings of work. The Braves ended up winning the game, although Schwellenbach didn’t factor in the decision.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Braves’ bats finally began awakening from their slumber with some expected – and unexpected – contributors.
Nick Allen’s hot bat from Spring Training has carried over the the regular season. This has led to him splitting time with incumbent Orlando Arcia at shortstop. Allen had three hits on Saturday, including a double, and continues to play himself into more starts.
Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II – who have been sharing the lead-off spot in the batting order have each had their moments. Albies had another two-hit game on Sunday.
Austin Riley seemed to remember that he has MVP upside, with a three-hit game, a couple of home runs and three doubles during the past week.
Marcell Ozuna, who has been the only consistent offensive performer for the Braves this season, continued to be productive, including his game-winning home run after an almost three-hour rain delay to beat the Philadelphia Phillies.
This week saw the return of Sean Murphy, with the catcher hitting a home run in his first game back behind the plate, and hitting two home runs on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Unfortunately, he struck out twice on Sunday during a hit-less contest.
With almost a half-dozen viable options this week, the choice for this week’s player of the week came down to Sunday’s game against the Rays.
And then the offense was no-hit for five innings and managed only four hits – two by Albies – against a pitcher called up by the Rays to make a spot start. They also struck out 13 times.
Despite a strong case for Murphy, Riley and Ozuna, Sunday’s loss was so deflating, going back to Schwellenbach as the Player of the Week for the third consecutive week seemed like the safest choice.
But, thanks to his consistent offense all season, a strong week of offensive production and a dramatic game-winning home run against the Phillies, the Battery Power Player of the Week goes to Marcell Ozuna.
Hopefully for Ozuna, the Braves and their fans, Ozuna won’t miss any time in the lineup this week after leaving Sunday’s game early – and will play himself into the Player of the Week conversation again next Sunday.
