The Atlanta Braves’ offense appeared to rediscover its rhythm on Independence Day with a dominant showing against the Mets. Atlanta overwhelmed its division rival 14–3, sparked by an explosive attack that included five home runs.
Chris Sale delivered a strong performance after learning he had earned his 10th career All-Star selection. He also reached a personal milestone with the Braves by recording his 500th strikeout with the club. Sale was limited to five innings, though, leaving the bullpen responsible for protecting the sizable lead.
Dylan Lee handled the sixth inning with ease, striking out all three batters he faced. From there, JR Ritchie took over and finished the final three innings, preventing any chance of a Mets comeback.
Ritchie had been recalled earlier in the day after Ha-Seong Kim was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a finger injury. The right-hander made the most of his opportunity, throwing three scoreless innings while allowing one walk and striking out four. His effort was especially valuable in preserving the bullpen during a four-game series.
Despite the impressive outing, Ritchie’s return to the majors was brief. He was optioned back to Triple-A following Saturday’s game, with Carlos Carrasco added to the roster as the corresponding move.
Carrasco continues to be a frequent presence on the Braves’ roster, logging 14.2 innings this season with a 3.68 ERA, one walk, and six strikeouts. How long this latest stint will last remains uncertain.
Ritchie’s demotion is disappointing, but he likely would not have been available to pitch again immediately anyway. The Braves are also skipping Bryce Elder’s next start after a noticeable drop in velocity in his most recent outing.
If Elder ends up needing time on the injured list, Ritchie could be an option to step into the rotation. Given Elder’s struggles in recent starts, that scenario might not be the worst outcome. Atlanta is still searching for more consistency as it works to regain momentum.
This is unlikely to be the last time fans see Ritchie this season. If he can continue to pitch the way he did in this outing, he could become a valuable contributor as the Braves push forward.