Mike

Yastrzemski

There were some rumblings after Game 3 that Acuña Jr. would have to DH again in Game 4 due to soreness in his right knee. However, he had an MRI after the game, which apparently cleared him to be able to return to the field. With Acuña Jr. in the outfield, Sean Murphy will catch and bat ninth, and Drake Baldwin will DH. Mike Yastrzemski will also re-enter the lineup in left field with Ha-Seong Kim heading back to the bench.

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)

Despite the Phillies opting to use left-hander Jesús Luzardo as an opener, Baldwin will still be hitting leadoff for Atlanta to kick off the postseason. Mike Yastrzemski will also be in the lineup at DH, which makes sense with the Phillies turning to right-hander Andrew Painter after one or two inning from Luzardo at the outset of Game 1.

Yastrzemski’s home run was his 12th of the season. He hit a three-run shot as part of a four-run sixth inning for the Braves. Yastrzemski has hit home runs in back-to-back games. He’s hitting .231 with a .706 OPS and 40 RBI this year. Yastrzemski isn’t a fantasy factor as a part-time player.

Yastrzemski singled to start the ninth-inning rally and then DeShawn Keirsey Jr. scored the tying run in his place after pinch-running. It’s just his second three-hit game of the year.

It looks to be nothing more than a routine day of rest for the 36-year-old outfielder. Mauricio Dubon will cover left field in his absence while Ha-Seong Kim starts at shortstop and will bat ninth against Rockies’ right-hander Mason Adams.

The 28-year-old superstar has really struggled since his return from the injured list in late July, slashing a woeful .188/.248/.366 with six homers, 13 RBI, three swipes and a 33/8 K/BB ratio over 121 plate appearances. A day off to clear his head against Dodgers’ right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto isn’t the worst idea in the world. Mike Yastremzki will start in his place in right field and bat seventh for the Braves.

Yastrzemski was 1-for-13 in his previous five games, so the Braves had him batting ninth today for the first time since June 23. Reaching four times might get him bumped back up to seventh on Saturday.

Yastrzemski did his damage off of Jake Irvin in the fifth inning, with his 413-foot (104.7-mph EV) two-run blast tying the score at three runs apiece. It has been a rough season overall at the plate for the 35-year-old outfielder, slashing just .226/.313/.363 to go along with seven long balls and 30 RBI in 281 plate appearances.

The Padres have left-hander Kyle Hart opening in front of Griffin Canning today, but with Smith and Mike Yastrzemski in the lineup, the Braves are treating it as if they were facing a right-handed starter. As a result, Joey Bart and Eli White, who both usually start versus lefties, are on the bench. Smith could use a big day; he seems like a candidate to lose his roster spot when Ronald Acuña Jr. is activated.