WILL SMITH NEWS

Marlins beat Dodgers 2-1 on wild pitch, error in 10th

Automatic runner Starling Marte advanced to third on Blake Treinen’s wild pitch and continued home when catcher Will Smith threw wildly past third base for a game-ending error in t...

JULY 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alfaro homers in 8th, Marlins end Dodgers' 9-game streak

Jorge Alfaro hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning, and the Miami Marlins ended the Los Angeles Dodgers’ nine-game winning streak with a 5-4 victory

JULY 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Earns third win Smith (3-5) pitched a perfect inning and earned the win in Sunday's 8-7 extra-inning win over Miami.

Impact Smith kept the game tied in the top of the 10th inning, and Atlanta walked it off on an RBI single by pitcher-turned-pinch-hitter Max Fried in the bottom of the 10th. Through 38 outings, Smith has a 3.53 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 46:12 K:BB while serving as Atlanta's primary closer. He's gone 17-for-19 in save chances this year.

JULY 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Fried's pinch-hit single lifts Braves past Marlins 8-7 in 10

Pinch-hitting pitcher Max Fried lined a bases-loaded single up the middle in the 10th inning, and the Atlanta Braves rallied for a wild 8-7 victory over the Miami Marlins

JULY 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shaky in 17th save Smith gave up one hit and walked two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his 17th save of the season in a 1-0 win over the Marlins.

Impact After loading the bases with one out, Smith was able to escape the jam by getting Jon Berti to pop out and Sandy Leon to fly out. The Atlanta closer was working for the second straight day, which might explain why he issued multiple free passes for the first time since April 16. Since the beginning of June, Smith has a 3.07 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB through 14.2 innings while converting eight of 10 save chances.

JULY 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Marlins hit Acuña with 1st pitch, 3 ejected; Braves win 1-0

Marlins starter Pablo López was ejected after plunking Ronald Acuña Jr. with his first pitch, leading to the only run as the Atlanta Braves edged Miami 1-0

JULY 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Blows save, takes second win Smith (2-5) allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out two across one inning, taking the win Thursday over the Mets.

Impact Smith surrendered a solo home run to Dominic Smith in the ninth inning, blowing the save. It was the first run he allowed in nine appearances. He is 16-for-18 in save opportunities this season. The 31-year-old has a 3.74 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP with a 12.3 K/9 in 33.2 innings.

JULY 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Freeman lifts Braves over Mets in 9th despite deGrom 14 Ks

Freddie Freeman singled home the winning run with a low line drive that deflected off reliever Seth Lugo in the ninth inning, and the Atlanta Braves beat New York 4-3 despite 14 st...

JULY 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Secures 16th save Smith gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his 16th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Reds.

Impact The veteran closer has been locked in the last couple of weeks, reeling off seven straight scoreless appearances while going 5-for-5 in save chances with a 7:0 K:BB. The hot streak has lowered Smith's ratios to a 3.69 ERA and 1.07 WHIP -- impressive for a reliever who had marks of 5.02 and 1.40 as late as May 13.

JUNE 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Heredia stars with bat, glove as Braves beat Reds 3-2

Guillermo Heredia homered, doubled and made a defensive gem before crashing into the wall, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2

JUNE 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Racks up 15th save Smith gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his 15th save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Mets.

Impact The veteran closer has pitched three straight days and picked up saves each time, leaving him almost certainly unavailable Wednesday should Atlanta have another late lead. Smith is having a solid June overall, posting a 3.37 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through 10.2 innings while converting six of seven save chances.

JUNE 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Morton earns 100th win, Stroman hurt as Braves blank Mets

Charlie Morton struck out 11 in seven innings of one-hit ball for his 100th major league win, and the Atlanta Braves beat the banged-up New York Mets 3-0 for their second consecuti...

JUNE 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Notches 14th save Smith gave up two hits and hit a batter in a scoreless seventh inning to record his 14th save of the season in a 1-0 win over the Mets during the second game of Monday's doublehead...

Impact The veteran southpaw made things dicey by plunking James McCann following one-out singles by Pete Alonso and Dominic Smith, but the Atlanta closer escaped the jam. Smith has only blown one save all year, and on paper his 3.94 ERA is a little unlucky given his 1.08 WHIP and 40:10 K:BB through 29.2 innings.

JUNE 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

DeGrom dominates after arm scares, Mets and Braves split DH

Jacob DeGrom shouldered the load for New York in his return from another injury scare, pitching one-hit ball over five scoreless innings as the Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 4-2 to...

JUNE 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Whiffs two in save Smith recorded the save in the second game of a 1-0 doubleheader win against the Cardinals on Sunday, throwing a perfect seventh with two strikeouts.

Impact Smith came in for the game's final inning and retired all three batters he faced to notch his 13th save of the season and protect a one-run lead. He's been a bit rocky thus far in 2021 with a 4.08 ERA, but a 3.03 FIP suggests better appearances lie ahead.

JUNE 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Smyly, Acuña fuel Braves past Cards for doubleheader split

Drew Smyly didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning, Ronald Acuña Jr. hit his 100th career homer and the Atlanta Braves earned a split of a day-night doubleheader with a 1-0 victo...

JUNE 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Perfect inning for save Smith struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Sunday's 6-4 win over Miami.

Impact Smith hadn't pitched since his first blown save of the year Wednesday when he allowed two runs versus Philadelphia. His return to action was a clean inning to protect a two-run lead. He's now 12-for-13 in save chances with a 4.56 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 36:10 K:BB across 25.2 innings. The process hasn't always been smooth, but the 31-year-old remains Atlanta's preferred closer.

JUNE 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Riley homers, Smyly wins on birthday, Braves top Marlins 6-4

Austin Riley homered and drove in three runs, Drew Smyly gave up two runs over five innings on his 32nd birthday and the Atlanta Braves snapped a four-game slide by beating the Mia...

JUNE 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wheeler expected to start for Philadelphia against Atlanta

The Braves will start Ian Anderson on Thursday and the Phillies are expected to counter with Zack Wheeler

JUNE 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Crumbles in save situation Smith (1-5) was tagged with the loss and a blown save Wednesday's against the Phillies after allowing two runs on one hit and one walk while fanning one across two-thirds of an inn...

Impact Smith entered the game in the ninth inning with Atlanta holding a one-run lead, but he crumbled with just one out to go after surrendering a game-winning homer to Luke Williams. Smith has given up two homers over his last three outings, and he has given up runs in three of his last five contests as well.

JUNE 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Williams' 1st career HR walks Phillies off over Braves

Luke Williams walked Philadelphia off with his first big league homer, hitting a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning to lift the Phillies over the Atlanta Braves 2-1

JUNE 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yields run in save Smith gave up a solo home run and struck out one in one inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Dodgers.

Impact The southpaw was taken deep by Albert Pujols in the ninth inning, but he was able to close out the contest. Smith has given up a run in two of his three appearances in June. He's now a perfect 11-for-11 in save chances despite a somewhat shaky 4.30 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 33:8 K:BB across 23 innings. He entered Sunday with a 2.04 FIP, so it's fair to say he's had some bad luck, It hasn't resulted in any risk to Smith's grip on the closer job.

JUNE 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Max Fried beats Bauer 4-2, Braves take 2 of 3 from Dodgers

Max Fried outpitched Trevor Bauer, and the Atlanta Braves beat Los Angeles 4-2 to take two of three in the first meeting of the teams since the Dodgers rallied to win last year’s N...

JUNE 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Strikes out side for save Smith racked up three strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Dodgers.

Impact Smith threw 11 of his 14 pitches for strikes to close out the victory. The 31-year-old gave up a run Thursday in a non-save situation, but has now recorded scoreless innings in four of his last five outings. The closer has a 4.09 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 32:8 K:BB and 10 saves in 22 innings this year.

JUNE 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Albies, Almonte power Braves past Dodgers in 6-4 win

Ozzie Albies drove in the go-ahead run in a five-run third inning off Clayton Kershaw, Abraham Almonte got a pinch-hit homer off Blake Treinen in the seventh, and the Atlanta Brave...

JUNE 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS