Braves Shut Out Cubs Behind Strong Outing from Rookie Smith-Shawver
The Atlanta Braves topped the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Thursday, fueled by Jarred Kelenic’s solo home run and a standout performance by rookie pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver. This victory marked the Braves’ second consecutive win and their third in the last four games, lifting them out of a recent slump.
Smith-Shawver, recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett for the game, delivered a stellar performance in his first start of the season. The 21-year-old right-hander pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing only three hits while striking out four and walking two. His impressive outing was a key component of the Braves’ major-league-leading eighth shutout of the season.
Displaying improved command and confidence, Smith-Shawver showcased an expanded repertoire that included a fastball, curve, and changeup. Notably, he did not utilize his slider during the game. “The secondary stuff was a little better than what I was expecting, quite honestly,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “The fastball has been a really good pitch, but in control and he was good, very impressive.”
Reflecting on his performance, Smith-Shawver expressed confidence in his abilities. “I definitely feel like I can get the job done here and confident in my stuff,” he said. “It’s just about getting opportunities and trying to make the most of them.”
Following Smith-Shawver, reliever Dylan Lee (1-1) took the mound, striking out one batter in one inning to earn the win. Closer Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth inning to secure his 12th save of the season.
The Braves’ offense was bolstered in the eighth inning by Ozzie Albies and Marcell Ozuna, who drove in runs off Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks. Albies singled, and Ozuna added a sacrifice fly, contributing to Hendricks’ struggles since being moved to the bullpen. Hendricks, a seasoned pitcher with 11 years in the majors, has had a rough start to the season with a 0-4 record and a 10.57 ERA in seven starts.
Despite the offensive contributions, Ozuna saw his 15-game hitting streak come to an end, going 0 for 2 with a walk. Nevertheless, the Braves’ bullpen was well-rested thanks to Max Fried’s complete game in Wednesday’s 9-2 victory, enabling them to secure the win on Thursday.
“What Max did last night was huge,” Snitker commented. “It allowed us to win the game today.”
With this win, the Braves continue their push towards the top of the standings, showing resilience and depth both on the mound and at the plate.
