Brian Snitker: “Smith-Shawver wasn’t the problem, Atlanta Braves just have to score”

Despite losing the NL Wild Card series opener to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night and then being one loss away from elimination for the second time this week, Atlanta Braves forward Brian Snitker remains on track for a win or go Home” win still equals Game 2.

Obviously everyone will be second-guessing the decision to start AJ Smith-Shawver in this game after AJ gave up three runs in just 1.1 innings of work. However, Snitker explained that he was forced to pursue Plan B after Plan A was scrapped following the catastrophic bullpen collapse during the first game of Monday's doubleheader. Snitker told reporters after the game that Plan A would have been to start Grant Holmes for Game 1. Instead, they turned to him on short notice to start Monday night and decided to go with AJ Smith-Shawver tonight.

Snitker admitted to the press that “we don't know what to expect from any of these guys when we get started,” which is honestly a fair statement considering how much of a rollercoaster a guy like Bryce Elder has been on when wherever he managed to get a place this season. Snitker also stood by his decision to choose Smith-Shawver over Ian Anderson – in the pregame press conference, Snitker explained that he did not choose Anderson because he had not pitched in the majors in so long .

Despite all of that, Snitker felt that AJ Smith-Shawver wasn't the main reason the Braves lost tonight. Padres starter Michael King delivered one of his best performances of the season in Game 1, and Snitker was effusive in praising King for his efforts. However, he went on to say that Atlanta's quiet offense was likely the reason they couldn't get the win in Game 1. “You still have to bounce back and score.” “It wasn't the one we started,” Snitker said when asked about the decision to start AJ Smith-Shawver. “We just couldn’t get anything going against their starter.”

In fact, it's pretty hard to win when you strike out 15 times in a game like the Braves did. Game 1 was indeed a tough night, but at the same time, Brian Snitker is confident that his team will respond with their backs against the wall. “I feel good,” Snitker said when asked about Atlanta’s chances of winning Game 2. Taking things “one day at a time,” he continued: “We don’t need to win twice in a row,” we just need to win tomorrow. We're sitting pretty well with Max Fried on the mound for us tomorrow (…) The bullpen had an off day, which is really good, and it'll be all hands on deck again tomorrow.”

The Braves clearly aren't up to their usual strength with their pitching staff, but as you can see, they're going to pull out all the stops to make sure their season doesn't end in Game 2. It won't get any easier for Atlanta's offense as Joe Musgrove had quite a bit of success at the end of the season, but Atlanta has no choice but to perform at this point. Once again there is no tomorrow and both Max Fried and the rest of the Braves will have to do their best if they want to keep San Diego's back against the wall.