2020 Atlanta Braves season


The 2020 Atlanta Braves season was the Braves' 55th season in Atlanta, 150th overall, and fourth season at Truist Park.
On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled. Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks. On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 24 Opening Day. The Braves began the season at the New York Mets on July 24 and ended the season at home against the [2020 2020 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox] on September 27.
Due to the pandemic and the shortened season, Major League Baseball instituted certain rule changes which included the use of a universal designated hitter, a runner on second base to start extra innings, and a revised schedule.
In a series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Marcell Ozuna and Adam Duvall became the first pair of teammates in MLB history to hit three home runs in consecutive games, Ozuna doing so on September 1 and Duvall on September 2. In their game against the Miami Marlins on September 9, the Braves scored 29 runs, one short of the MLB record set by the Texas Rangers in 2007. On September 22, the Braves clinched the National League East for the third straight year with a 11–1 win over the Miami Marlins. They then swept the Cincinnati Reds in the NLWCS for their first post-season series win since the 2001 season. They also swept the Miami Marlins in the NLDS and advanced to the NLCS, their first NLCS appearance since 2001. They lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS after leading 3–1.
The Braves led MLB in hits, doubles, runs batted in, on-base percentage, on-base plus slugging, total bases and plate appearances.

Offseason

Transactions

October 2019

November 2019

  • November 4: Billy Hamilton and Julio Teheran had their options declined by the Braves and both players elected free agency.
  • November 8: Darren O'Day re-signed with the Braves on a one-year, $2.5 million contract with a club option for a second year.
  • November 14: Will Smith agreed on a three-year, $39 million contract. The deal includes a fourth year option worth $13 million with a $1 million buyout.
  • November 19: Chris Martin re-signed with the Braves on a two-year, $14 million contract.
  • November 24: Travis d'Arnaud signed a two-year, $16 million contract.

December 2019

  • December 3: Cole Hamels signed a one-year, $18 million contract.

January 2020

  • January 16: Adeiny Hechavarria re-signed with the Braves on a one-year, $1 million contract.
  • January 21: Marcell Ozuna signed a one-year, $18 million contract.

Regular season

Game log

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season was shortened to 60 games with teams playing 10 games against each other member of their division while also playing four games against each team in the corresponding division in the other league. The Braves will, therefore, play 10 games against each team in their division and four games against each team in the American League East Division. On July 6, MLB announced the Braves' 60-game schedule which will begin on July 24 and end on September 27.

Roster

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting proposed shortened season, teams started the season with a 30-man roster. The rosters were reduce to 28 after two weeks and then to the new-normal roster size of 26 after that.

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases; BB = Walks; AVG = Batting average; SLG = Slugging average
PlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBISBBBAVGSLG
Dansby Swanson6023749651501035522.274.464
Marcell Ozuna6022838771401856038.338.636
Freddie Freeman6021451732311353245.341.640
Adam Duvall571903445801633015.237.532
Austin Riley51188244571827016.239.415
Travis d'Arnaud44165195380934116.321.533
Ronald Acuña Jr.4616046401101429838.250.581
Nick Markakis371301533150115010.254.392
Johan Camargo351201624804906.200.367
Ozzie Albies2911821325061935.271.466
Ender Inciarte46116172221110412.190.250
Tyler Flowers2269515601508.217.348
Adeiny Hechavarria2759715300204.254.305
Matt Adams164949202902.184.347
William Contreras41004100100.400.500
Alex Jackson5702100000.286.429
Charlie Culberson9721100100.143.286
Cristian Pache2401000000.250.250
Pablo Sandoval1200000002.000.000
Scott Schebler1100000000.000.000
Team totals602074348556130310333823239.268.483

Source:

Pitching

Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerWLERAGGSSVIPHRERBBSO
Max Fried702.251111056.04214141950
Josh Tomlin224.76175039.2402221836
Kyle Wright245.2188038.03523222430
Ian Anderson321.9566032.1211171441
Tyler Matzek432.79210029.023991043
Shane Greene102.60280027.22298921
Grant Dayton212.30180027.122971132
Luke Jackson206.84190026.13923201320
Touki Toussaint028.8875024.12728241630
Robbie Erlin008.4975023.1282222621
Mark Melancon212.782301122.22287714
Huascar Ynoa005.8295021.22314141317
A. J. Minter110.83220021.21532924
Chris Martin111.00190118.0832320
Darren O'Day401.10190016.1832522
Will Smith224.50180016.01188418
Bryse Wilson104.0262115.21877915
Michael Soroka013.9533013.2117678
Sean Newcomb0211.2044013.2201717610
Jacob Webb000.0080010.0720510
Tommy Milone0014.903309.222161629
Jhoulys Chacín107.202005.064433
Chad Sobotka0012.274003.265522
Mike Foltynewicz0116.201103.146643
Cole Hamels018.101103.133312
Chris Rusin008.101003.163333
Tucker Davidson0110.801101.237242
Patrick Weigel0027.001000.222230
Charlie Culberson000.001000.100000
Team totals35254.41606013524.1494288257220506

Source:

Postseason

Postseason rosters