Suarez Returns With A Vengeance
The doubts were real heading into Sunday night. Robert Suarez missed three full months with arm soreness. He only threw two innings in the final week of the regular season. Most teams would have left him on the bench. The Braves saw something else entirely. They needed a man who could face the 3-4-5 hitters in a high-leverage spot. Suarez stepped up and delivered exactly what Atlanta needed. A 100.1 mph fastball convinced Will Smith to fly out. He retired Freddie Freeman on a sharp changeup. Teoscar Hernández struck out on a 101.4 mph fastball to finish the inning. That is not just a good outing. That is a statement to the entire league.
Why The Doubters Were Wrong
Manager Walt Weiss admitted the uncertainty before the game. “Look, coming into the postseason, we weren’t really sure what we were going to get there,” Weiss said, according to MLB.com. He noted that an unbelievable track record does not erase three months of missed time. The organization realized Suarez could not immediately return to a high-leverage role. Yet they included him on the postseason roster based on what they observed. The upside is huge, according to reports. Suarez’s first test came in the Wild Card Series against the Phillies. He escaped a jam with two outs in the sixth. Sunday night was the real exam. With two on and nobody out, the Braves held a one-run lead. The pressure was immense. Suarez handled it like a veteran who has been here before. He pitched a clean inning when it mattered most. “I’m just happy I was able to pitch a clean inning at that moment,” Suarez said via interpreter Franco GarcÃa. He added, “I’m just really grateful I was able to help the team.”
The Cost Of Doing Business
This performance validates a massive financial commitment. The Dodgers signed star closer Edwin DÃaz to a three-year, $69 million deal last December. The Braves made a counter move by offering Suarez a three-year, $45 million contract. Atlanta did not need a closer since Raisel Iglesias signed a one-year deal. The vision was to create the best setup man and closer duo in baseball. They got exactly that until the injury struck in June. The blueprint for October was set in a game against the Brewers where Suarez pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. He was shut down after feeling soreness in his right arm. Now, the plan is back on track. “He looked like vintage Suarez tonight,” Weiss said. “He was throwing the hell out of the ball.” The Braves did not panic when the injury hit. They waited for the right moment. Now they have their answer for the bullpen. The Dodgers now have another high-leverage Atlanta arm to worry about. They have to worry about a guy who just hit 101.4 mph in a high-pressure situation.
The NLDS shifts back to Atlanta for Game 3 on Tuesday. The game starts at 6 p.m. ET on FS1. The battery is ready to rock.
