A potentially overlooked development of Braves Game 2 win over Dodgers

The Braves’ Game 2 victory over the Dodgers in the NLDS featured a slew of talking points.

Ray Kerr delivered again as an opener, as the aura around his path to this point continues to grow. Michael Harris II keeps cementing himself as a postseason demon, adding three more hits to his tally this October, giving him eight in just five games. And 21-year-old Didier Fuentes announced himself to the world, recording 11 straight outs over the final four innings against one of the greatest lineups ever assembled to help seal the victory.

It’s all setting up perfectly for the Braves, who will have Chris Sale ready to roll for Game 3 as the series shifts back to Truist Park. However, one aspect of that Game 2 win that’s probably getting overlooked is Robert Suarez looking like the guy who recorded a 0.56 ERA over his first 31 appearances before an elbow injury shut him down for the next few months.

The two-time All-Star still clearly isn’t 100%. The Braves aren’t going to be able to rely on him as much as they’d like in this series, in order to ensure he stays healthy. But from an effectiveness standpoint, it feels like he can be trusted in the biggest moments again.

Walt Weiss turned to him on Sunday night in the fifth inning with a one-run lead, nobody out, and runners standing on first and second. If Suarez had allowed just one run to score, the Braves probably would have taken it no questions asked, especially given where the Dodgers were in the lineup. Instead, he set down Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernandez in order while keeping the lead intact.

That was arguably the most pivotal point in the entire ballgame, and Suarez continuously pounded the zone with 100-plus MPH fastballs to get the job done. It was by far the best he’s looked since the injury, and while the Braves will have to be cautious about where he’s used, Walt Weiss now has one of his most powerful weapons back at his disposal whenever he needs him most over these final three games.

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