Michael Harris II swats 18th home run in win

Harris was one of the few bright spots for the Braves as they once again were unable to come up with a big hit when presented with plenty of opportunities against Los Angeles, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position during a brutal series-ending loss. The 25-year-old center fielder gave Atlanta an early lead when he reached on a leadoff single and swiped second base before scampering home on a wild pitch from Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow with two outs in the opening frame. He also doubled to bring the potential tying run to the plate with two outs in the seventh inning.

Either Drake Baldwin or Ronald Acuna Jr. has led off every postseason game so far, and Harris II has only led off 15 games all season for the Braves. Yet, the 25-year-old has been arguably the team’s best hitter in the playoffs, going 9-for-24 in six games with three extra-base hits, including a home run, four runs scored and four RBI. The Braves will hope he can provide a spark and stave off elimination. Baldwin will move down to fifth for Game 4.

Before scoring the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, Harris tripled on a fly to left off Kris Bubic in the fifth. A good left fielder likely would have caught the ball and a competent one at least should have held him to a double, but Teoscar Hernández did neither of those things. Harris then gave the Braves an insurance run with his double in the seventh. He deserved some grief against the Phillies for not running out a grounder, leading to a 3-2-3 double play, but he’s been great otherwise in going 8-for-20 with a homer and four RBI in five games. The Braves will get to return to Atlanta ahead of what should be a delightful game with Chris Sale and Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound for Tuesday’s Game 3.

After the Phillies were held scoreless in the top half of the first, the Braves got something going as Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson worked Aaron Nola for back-to-back one-out walks. Harris then strode to the dish and pulverized a 2-0 sinker for a 387-foot (100.5-mph EV) three-run shot, giving the Braves a lead that they would never relinquish. Harris finished the night 1-for-3 and was also hit by a pitch. He’ll look to continue his offensive rampage against the Dodgers in the NLDS starting on Saturday in Los Angeles.

It’s the first start of the series for Smith, who has appeared as a pinch-hitter and struck out in each of the first two games. Mike Yastrzemski will also return to the starting lineup for Game 3 after sitting in Game 2. Sean Murphy and Ha-Seong Kim will open the game on the bench for the Braves. Here’s the full lineup that the Braves will deploy in a must-win game against Phillies’ right-hander Aaron Nola: Drake Baldwin (C), Ronald Acuña Jr. (RF), Matt Olson (1B), Michael Harris II (CF), Mauricio Dubon (SS), Mike Yastrzemski (LF) Austin Riley (3B), Ozzie Albies (2B) and Dominic Smith (DH)

Braves’ skipper Walt Weiss is using Sunday to give several of his regulars a day off in advance of the start of the postseason, with Acuña, Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II all sitting. Brewer Hicklen will start in Acuña’s place in right field and will bat eighth against Marlins’ right-hander Janson Junk.

Harris is putting the finishing touches on an excellent season. He’s hitting .294 with 26 home runs, 12 steals, 87 RBI and 79 runs scored. While his stolen bases are down from previous years, he’s at or near a career-high in the four other rotisserie categories.

Harris has had quite the successful season, but even so, it still like there might be something more in the tank. He had the three hardest-hit balls of tonight’s game, coming in at 111, 110 and 108 mph. He’s currently batting .291/.319/.488 despite a first-percentile chase rate. Just the tiniest bit of plate discipline could turn him into a real star.

Harris’ home run was his 25th of the season. He hit a three-run shot off Garrett Stubbs, a position player, in the eighth inning. Harris’ fantasy managers will take it. He was 0-for-15 over his last four games entering play Saturday. Harris is hitting .288 with an .804 OPS and 83 RBI this year.

It’s a bit of a surprising move given the Phillies are trying to chase down the Braves in the NL East and Harris is hitting .351/.373/.684 with four homers and three stolen bases in his last 15 games. They are facing LHP Cristopher Sánchez and Harris is hitting .269/.306/.462 against left-handers this year, we guess. Lane Thomas will get the call in left field for the Braves with Mauricio Dubón shifting over to center.