The Atlanta Braves made a calculated decision Monday night, but it came at a painful cost for one of their pitchers.
With the game already slipping away against the New York Mets, Atlanta chose not to burn through additional bullpen arms. Instead, left-handed reliever Connor Thomas remained on the mound as the Mets continued piling on runs in what turned into one of the roughest appearances of his professional career.
Thomas worked 2.2 innings in relief and was charged with 11 earned runs. He surrendered 10 hits, issued five walks, and needed 78 pitches to finish his outing. The Mets had already built a lead after scoring three runs over the first five innings against starter Martin Perez, but their offense exploded once Thomas entered the game.
A Difficult Strategic Choice
From a strategic standpoint, the Braves’ decision is understandable. Teams frequently avoid using multiple relievers when a game has already become lopsided, especially during a long season in which preserving bullpen arms can have value over the following days. Managers often accept that one pitcher may have to absorb extra innings to keep the rest of the staff available.
That logic, however, did little to lessen the difficult scene unfolding on the field.
Broadcasters Question the Braves’ Decision
As Thomas continued to struggle, broadcasters Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling openly questioned Atlanta’s decision to leave him in the game. Hernandez expressed sympathy for the young pitcher, saying he felt like hugging him and admitted the situation made him sick to his stomach. Darling was equally critical, saying he was “pretty disgusted” with how the outing was handled as Thomas remained on the mound while the damage continued to mount.
Those reactions reflected what many watching the game were likely thinking. Regardless of the strategic reasoning, it was difficult to watch a pitcher endure inning after inning without an opportunity to reset.
The Road Back
For Thomas, the outing represents a significant challenge. Performances like this can affect confidence as much as statistics, particularly for a pitcher still trying to establish himself at the major league level. The final line from the appearance will stand out, but it does not necessarily define what comes next.
The Braves may decide to send Thomas back to Triple-A to bring a fresh arm onto the active roster, a common move following such a heavy workload. If that happens, his focus will shift to rebuilding momentum and demonstrating that one difficult night is not an accurate reflection of his abilities.
Baseball has a long history of players recovering from disastrous outings and finding success later in their careers. Thomas now faces that same test. His response in the weeks ahead may ultimately matter far more than the 78 pitches he threw against the Mets on a night that quickly spiraled beyond anyone’s expectations.
