2020 Atlanta Braves
National League East Champions
LeagueNational League
DivisionEast
BallparkTruist Park
CityAtlanta
Record35–25 (.583)
Divisional place1st
OwnersLiberty Media/John Malone
General managersAlex Anthopoulos
ManagersBrian Snitker
TelevisionFox Sports Southeast
Fox Sports South
(Chip Caray, Jeff Francoeur, Paul Byrd, Tom Glavine, Dale Murphy, Joe Simpson)
Radio680 The Fan
Rock 100.5
Atlanta Braves Radio Network
(Jim Powell, Don Sutton, Joe Simpson)
← 2019 Seasons 2021 →

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] The Braves began the season at the New York Mets on July 24 and ended the season at home against the 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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6] On September 22, the Braves clinched the National League East for the third straight year with a 11–1 win over the Miami Marlins.[7][8] 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 (556), doubles (130), runs batted in (338), on-base percentage (.349), on-base plus slugging (.832), total bases (1,001) and plate appearances (2,344).[9]

Offseason

Transactions

October 2019

November 2019

December 2019

January 2020

Regular season

Standings

National League East

NL East 		W L Pct. GB Home Road
Atlanta Braves 35 25 0.583 — 19–11 16–14
Miami Marlins 31 29 0.517 4 11–15 20–14
Philadelphia Phillies 28 32 0.467 7 19–13 9–19
Washington Nationals 26 34 0.433 9 15–18 11–16
New York Mets 26 34 0.433 9 12–17 14–17


National League Wild Card

Division Leaders 		W L Pct.
Los Angeles Dodgers 43 17 0.717
Atlanta Braves 35 25 0.583
Chicago Cubs 34 26 0.567
Division 2nd Place 		W L Pct.
San Diego Padres 37 23 0.617
St. Louis Cardinals 30 28 0.517
Miami Marlins 31 29 0.517
Wild Card teams
(Top 2 teams qualify for postseason) 		W L Pct. GB
Cincinnati Reds 31 29 0.517 +2
Milwaukee Brewers 29 31 0.483 —
San Francisco Giants 29 31 0.483 —
Philadelphia Phillies 28 32 0.467 1
Washington Nationals 26 34 0.433 3
New York Mets 26 34 0.433 3
Colorado Rockies 26 34 0.433 3
Arizona Diamondbacks 25 35 0.417 4
Pittsburgh Pirates 19 41 0.317 10

Record vs. opponents

2020 National League record

Source: MLB Standings Grid – 2020

Team ATL MIA NYM PHI WSH AL
Atlanta — 6–4 7–3 5–5 6–4 11–9
Miami 4–6 — 4–6 7–3 6–4 10–10
New York 3–7 6–4 — 4–6 4–6 9–11
Philadelphia 5–5 3–7 6–4 — 7–3 7–13
Washington 4–6 4–6 6–4 3–7 — 9–11

Opening Day starters

Name Pos.
Ronald Acuña Jr. RF
Ozzie Albies 2B
Freddie Freeman 1B
Marcell Ozuna LF
Matt Adams DH
Austin Riley 3B
Dansby Swanson SS
Ender Inciarte CF
Alex Jackson C
Mike Soroka SP

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.

2020 Game Log: 35–25 (Home: 19–11; Away: 16–14)
July: 5–3 (Home: 3–0; Away: 2–3)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Record Box/Streak
1 July 24 @ Mets 0–1 Lugo (1–0) Martin (0–1) Díaz (1) 0–1 L1
2 July 25 @ Mets 5–3 (10) Jackson (1–0) Strickland (0–1) — 1–1 W1
3 July 26 @ Mets 14–1 Chacín (1–0) Porcello (0–1) — 2–1 W2
4 July 27 @ Rays 5–14 Castillo (1–0) Foltynewicz (0–1) — 2–2 L1
5 July 28 @ Rays 2–5 Fairbanks (1–0) Wright (0–1) Drake (2) 2–3 L2
6 July 29 Rays 7–4 O'Day (1–0) Drake (0–1) Melancon (1) 3–3 W1
7 July 30 Rays 2–1 Fried (1–0) Yarbrough (0–1) Melancon (2) 4–3 W2
8 July 31 Mets 11–10 Dayton (1–0) Lugo (1–1) Martin (1) 5–3 W3
August: 15–12 (Home: 9–5; Away: 6–7)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Record Box/Streak
9 August 1 Mets 7–1 Tomlin (1–0) Wacha (1–1) — 6–3 W4
10 August 2 Mets 4–0 Matzek (1–0) Peterson (1–1) — 7–3 W5
11 August 3 Mets 2–7 deGrom (1–0) Soroka (0–1) — 7–4 L1
12 August 4 Blue Jays 10–1 Fried (2–0) Shoemaker (0–1) — 8–4 W1
13 August 5 Blue Jays 1–2 Ryu (1–1) Newcomb (0–1) Bass (2) 8–5 L1
14 August 6 Blue Jays 4–3 Melancon (1–0) Font (0–1) — 9–5 W1
15 August 8 @ Phillies 0–5 Arrieta (1–1) Wright (0–2) — 9–6 L1
16 August 9 @ Phillies 5–2 (7) Matzek (2–0) Guerra (1–1) Melancon (3) 10–6 W1
17 August 9 @ Phillies 8–0 (7) Fried (3–0) Howard (0–1) — 11–6 W2
18 August 10 @ Phillies 8–13 Nola (1–1) Newcomb (0–2) — 11–7 L1
19 August 11 @ Yankees 6–9 Montgomery (2–1) Toussaint (0–1) Britton (6) 11–8 L2
20 August 12 @ Yankees 3–6 Loáisiga (2–0) Matzek (2–1) Britton (7) 11–9 L3
21 August 14 @ Marlins 2–8 López (2–1) Wright (0–3) — 11–10 L4
22 August 15 @ Marlins 2–1 Smith (1–0) Kintzler (1–1) Melancon (4) 12–10 W1
23 August 16 @ Marlins 4–0 O'Day (2–0) Vincent (1–1) — 13–10 W2
24 August 17 Nationals 7–6 Smith (2–0) Hudson (1–2) — 14–10 W3
25 August 18 Nationals 5–8 Suero (1–0) Matzek (2–2) Hudson (5) 14–11 L1
26 August 21 Phillies 11–2 Fried (4–0) Nola (2–2) — 15–11 W1
27 August 22 Phillies 6–5 Melancon (2–0) Workman (0–1) — 16–11 W2
28 August 23 Phillies 4–5 Eflin (1–1) Tomlin (1–1) Workman (5) 16–12 L1
29 August 26 Yankees 5–1 (7) Anderson (1–0) Cole (4–1) — 17–12 W1
30 August 26 Yankees 2–1 (7) Fried (5–0) Green (2–1) Melancon (5) 18–12 W2
31 August 28 @ Phillies 4–7 (11) Parker (2–0) Melancon (2–1) — 18–13 L1
32 August 29 @ Phillies 1–4 Eflin (2–1) Tomlin (1–2) Workman (7) 18–14 L2
33 August 30 @ Phillies 12–10 Minter (1–0) Arrieta (2–4) Melancon (6) 19–14 W1
34 August 31 @ Red Sox 6–3 Fried (6–0) Brewer (0–3) Melancon (7) 20–14 W2
September: 15–10 (Home: 7–6; Away: 8–4)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Record Box/Streak
35 September 1 @ Red Sox 10–3 Anderson (2–0) Stock (0–1) — 21–14 W3
36 September 2 @ Red Sox 7–5 Matzek (3–2) Triggs (0–2) Melancon (8) 22–14 W4
37 September 4 Nationals 7–1 (7) O'Day (3–0) Voth (0–5) — 23–14 W5
38 September 4 Nationals 9–10 (7) Suero (2–0) Smith (2–1) Hudson (7) 23–15 L1
39 September 5 Nationals 4–10 McGowin (1–0) Matzek (3–3) — 23–16 L2
40 September 6 Nationals 10–3 Tomlin (2–2) Corbin (2–4) — 24–16 W1
41 September 7 Marlins 4–5 (10) Kintzler (2–3) Minter (1–1) Vincent (3) 24–17 L1
42 September 8 Marlins 0–8 Sánchez (2–1) Wright (0–4) — 24–18 L2
43 September 9 Marlins 29–9 Dayton (2–0) López (3–4) Wilson (1) 25–18 W1
44 September 10 @ Nationals 7–6 Martin (1–1) Rainey (1–1) Melancon (9) 26–18 W2
45 September 11 @ Nationals 7–8 (12) Bourque (1–0) Dayton (2–1) — 26–19 L1
46 September 12 @ Nationals 2–1 Anderson (3–0) Corbin (2–5) Melancon (10) 27–19 W1
47 September 13 @ Nationals 8–4 Wright (1–4) Scherzer (4–3) — 28–19 W2
48 September 14 @ Orioles 1–14 López (2–0) Toussaint (0–2) — 28–20 L1
49 September 15 @ Orioles 5–1 O'Day (4–0) Eshelman (3–1) — 29–20 W1
50 September 16 @ Orioles 1–5 Akin (1–1) Hamels (0–1) — 29–21 L1
51 September 18 @ Mets 15–2 Fried (7–0) Matz (0–5) — 30–21 W1
52 September 19 @ Mets 2–7 Peterson (5–2) Anderson (3–1) — 30–22 L1
53 September 20 @ Mets 7–0 Wright (2–4) Porcello (1–6) — 31–22 W1
54 September 21 Marlins 5–4 Matzek (4–3) Rogers (1–2) Melancon (11) 32–22 W2
55 September 22 Marlins 11–1 Wilson (1–0) Ureña (0–3) — 33–22 W3
56 September 23 Marlins 9–4 Jackson (2–0) Smith (1–1) — 34–22 W4
57 September 24 Marlins 2–4 López (6–4) Anderson (3–2) Kintzler (11) 34–23 L1
58 September 25 Red Sox 8–7 (11) Greene (1–0) Springs (0–2) — 35–23 W1
59 September 26 Red Sox 2–8 Houck (3–0) Davidson (0–1) — 35–24 L1
60 September 27 Red Sox 1–9 Pivetta (2–0) Smith (2–2) — 35–25 L2
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Postponement
Bold = Braves team member

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.

2020 Atlanta Braves
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders Manager

Coaches

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

Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB AVG SLG
Dansby Swanson 60 237 49 65 15 0 10 35 5 22 .274 .464
Marcell Ozuna 60 228 38 77 14 0 18 56 0 38 .338 .636
Freddie Freeman 60 214 51 73 23 1 13 53 2 45 .341 .640
Adam Duvall 57 190 34 45 8 0 16 33 0 15 .237 .532
Austin Riley 51 188 24 45 7 1 8 27 0 16 .239 .415
Travis d'Arnaud 44 165 19 53 8 0 9 34 1 16 .321 .533
Ronald Acuña Jr. 46 160 46 40 11 0 14 29 8 38 .250 .581
Nick Markakis 37 130 15 33 15 0 1 15 0 10 .254 .392
Johan Camargo 35 120 16 24 8 0 4 9 0 6 .200 .367
Ozzie Albies 29 118 21 32 5 0 6 19 3 5 .271 .466
Ender Inciarte 46 116 17 22 2 1 1 10 4 12 .190 .250
Tyler Flowers 22 69 5 15 6 0 1 5 0 8 .217 .348
Adeiny Hechavarria 27 59 7 15 3 0 0 2 0 4 .254 .305
Matt Adams 16 49 4 9 2 0 2 9 0 2 .184 .347
William Contreras 4 10 0 4 1 0 0 1 0 0 .400 .500
Alex Jackson 5 7 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 .286 .429
Charlie Culberson 9 7 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 .143 .286
Cristian Pache 2 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 .250
Pablo Sandoval 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000
Scott Schebler 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000
Team Totals 60 2074 348 556 130 3 103 338 23 239 .268 .483

Source:[1]

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

Player W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER BB SO
Max Fried 7 0 2.25 11 11 0 56.0 42 14 14 19 50
Josh Tomlin 2 2 4.76 17 5 0 39.2 40 22 21 8 36
Kyle Wright 2 4 5.21 8 8 0 38.0 35 23 22 24 30
Ian Anderson 3 2 1.95 6 6 0 32.1 21 11 7 14 41
Tyler Matzek 4 3 2.79 21 0 0 29.0 23 9 9 10 43
Shane Greene 1 0 2.60 28 0 0 27.2 22 9 8 9 21
Grant Dayton 2 1 2.30 18 0 0 27.1 22 9 7 11 32
Luke Jackson 2 0 6.84 19 0 0 26.1 39 23 20 13 20
Touki Toussaint 0 2 8.88 7 5 0 24.1 27 28 24 16 30
Robbie Erlin 0 0 8.49 7 5 0 23.1 28 22 22 6 21
Mark Melancon 2 1 2.78 23 0 11 22.2 22 8 7 7 14
Huascar Ynoa 0 0 5.82 9 5 0 21.2 23 14 14 13 17
A. J. Minter 1 1 0.83 22 0 0 21.2 15 3 2 9 24
Chris Martin 1 1 1.00 19 0 1 18.0 8 3 2 3 20
Darren O'Day 4 0 1.10 19 0 0 16.1 8 3 2 5 22
Will Smith 2 2 4.50 18 0 0 16.0 11 8 8 4 18
Bryse Wilson 1 0 4.02 6 2 1 15.2 18 7 7 9 15
Michael Soroka 0 1 3.95 3 3 0 13.2 11 7 6 7 8
Sean Newcomb 0 2 11.20 4 4 0 13.2 20 17 17 6 10
Jacob Webb 0 0 0.00 8 0 0 10.0 7 2 0 5 10
Tommy Milone 0 0 14.90 3 3 0 9.2 22 16 16 2 9
Jhoulys Chacín 1 0 7.20 2 0 0 5.0 6 4 4 3 3
Chad Sobotka 0 0 12.27 4 0 0 3.2 6 5 5 2 2
Mike Foltynewicz 0 1 16.20 1 1 0 3.1 4 6 6 4 3
Cole Hamels 0 1 8.10 1 1 0 3.1 3 3 3 1 2
Chris Rusin 0 0 8.10 1 0 0 3.1 6 3 3 3 3
Tucker Davidson 0 1 10.80 1 1 0 1.2 3 7 2 4 2
Patrick Weigel 0 0 27.00 1 0 0 0.2 2 2 2 3 0
Charlie Culberson 0 0 0.00 1 0 0 0.1 0 0 0 0 0
Team Totals 35 25 4.41 60 60 13 524.1 494 288 257 220 506

Source:[2]

Postseason

Game log

2020 postseason game log: 8–4 (Home: 5–2; Away: 3–2)
NLWCS: 2–0 (Home: 2–0; Away: 0–0)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Record
1 September 30 Reds 1–0 (13) Minter (1–0) Bradley (0–1) — 1–0
2 October 1 Reds 5–0 Anderson (1–0) Castillo (0–1) — 2–0
NLDS: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Away: 1–0)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Record
1 October 6 Marlins 9–5 Smith (1–0) Alcántara (0–1) — 1–0
2 October 7 Marlins 2–0 Anderson (1–0) López (0–1) Melancon (1) 2–0
3 October 8 @ Marlins 7–0 Wright (1–0) Sánchez (0–1) — 3–0
all games played at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas
NLCS: 3–4 (Home: 1–2; Away: 2–2)
# Date Opponent Score Win Loss Save Attendance Record
1 October 12 @ Dodgers 5–1 Smith (1–0) Treinen (0–1) — 10,700 1–0
2 October 13 @ Dodgers 8–7 Matzek (1–0) Gonsolin (0–1) Melancon (1) 10,624 2–0
3 October 14 Dodgers 3–15 Urías (1–0) Wright (0–1) — 10,664 2–1
4 October 15 Dodgers 10–2 Wilson (1–0) Kershaw (0–1) — 11,044 3–1
5 October 16 Dodgers 3–7 Treinen (1–1) Smith (1–1) — 11,119 3–2
6 October 17 @ Dodgers 1–3 Buehler (1–0) Fried (0–1) Jansen (1) 10,772 3–3
7 October 18 @ Dodgers 3–4 Urías (2–0) Martin (0–1) — 10,920 3–4
all games played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas

Postseason rosters

Playoff rosters
National League Wild Card Series
National League Division Series
National League Championship Series

Farm system

See also: Minor League Baseball
Level Team League Manager
AAA Gwinnett Stripers International League
AA Mississippi Braves Southern League
A-Advanced Florida Fire Frogs Florida State League
A Rome Braves South Atlantic League
Rookie Danville Braves Appalachian League
Rookie GCL Braves Gulf Coast League
Rookie DSL Braves Dominican Summer League

References

  1. ^ Mark Feinsand (March 12, 2020). "Opening Day delayed at least 2 weeks; Spring Training games cancelled". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "Opening of regular season to be pushed back". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. March 16, 2020. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Feinsand, Mark (June 24, 2020). "Play Ball: MLB announces 2020 regular season". MLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  4. ^ Daniels, Tim. "MLB Rules, Format Changes for 60-Game 2020 Season Due to COVID-19". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  5. ^ Bowman, Mark (September 2, 2020). "Braves make 3-homer game history". MLB.com. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  6. ^ "Braves' 29 runs against Marlins second most in MLB since 1900". ESPN. September 9, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  7. ^ Burns, Gabriel (September 22, 2020). "The new streak continues: Braves win third consecutive NL East title". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  8. ^ McPherson, Jordan (September 23, 2020). "Atlanta Braves crush Marlins to win NL East. Where do Miami's playoff hopes stand now?". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  9. ^ "2020 MLB Team Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 3, 2020.

External links

National League East champions
2020 Major League Baseball postseason
2020 MLB season by team
Atlanta Braves
Categories