Eighteen Gwinnett Alums Highlight Braves’ NLCS Roster

The Atlanta Braves, set to play in the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2001, announced a 28-man series roster today that includes 18 former Gwinnett players.

The 18 G-Braves and Stripers alums, led by former Gwinnett manager Brian Snitker (2014-16), include:

Pitchers (10)

Ian Anderson (2019), Grant Dayton (2019), Max Fried (2017-18), Tyler Matzek (2019), A.J. Minter (2017, 2019), Darren O’Day (2019), Jacob Webb (2018-19), Bryse Wilson (2018-19), Kyle Wright (2018-19), Huascar Ynoa (2019)

Catchers (1)

Tyler Flowers (2016, 2018)

Infielders (4)

Ozzie Albies (2016-17), Freddie Freeman (2010, 2013, 2015, 2017), Austin Riley (2018-19), Dansby Swanson (2017)

Outfielders (3)

Ronald Acuña Jr. (2017-18), Adam Duvall (2019), Cristian Pache (2019)

#Braves Set 2020 National League Championship Series Roster: pic.twitter.com/YVnkybHsID

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 12, 2020

Atlanta’s announced rotation consists of three former Stripers, each of whom have been impressive in their first Postseason starts. Fried (0-0, 3.27 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, .273 BAA) takes the baseball in Game 1, with Anderson (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, .125 BAA in 2 starts) and Wright (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, .143 BAA in 1 start) slated for Games 2-3. That trio went 3-0 with a 1.26 ERA (4 ER in 28.2 IP) in the Braves’ first five Postseason games, keying sweeps of the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Wild Card Series and Miami Marlins in the NL Division Series.

The Braves’ dominant relief staff, a combined 2-0 with a 0.44 ERA (1 ER in 20.1 IP) through five Postseason games, includes former Stripers hurlers Matzek (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, .167 BAA in 3 games), Minter (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.60 WHIP, .000 BAA in 2 games), O’Day (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, .286 BAA in 3 games), and Webb (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .250 BAA in 1 game). Matzek and Webb are both Postseason rookies. Dayton, who last appeared in a playoff game with the Dodgers in 2016, has yet to pitch.

Wilson and Ynoa, added to the Braves’ roster for the NLDS, will each seek to make their Postseason debuts in the NLCS. Both Wilson, the 2019 International League ERA champion with Gwinnett (11-7, 3.42 ERA in 21 starts), and Ynoa, a Triple-A rookie with the Stripers in 2019 (3-5, 5.33 ERA in 17 games, 14 starts), could be options for a starting nod later in the series or valuable depth in the bullpen.

Offensively, Swanson has been the brightest-shining Gwinnett alum through five Postseason games, batting .263/.286/.684 with two home runs, five RBIs, and a .970 OPS that ranks second on the club behind only NLDS hero Travis d’Arnaud (1.342). His second-inning solo blast off Pablo Lopez in Game 2 of the NLDS plated the game-winning run in Atlanta’s 2-0 victory over Miami.

Acuña Jr. ranks third on the club in OPS (.860) and is one of three Gwinnett alums to homer thus far, joining Swanson and Duvall.

Riley and Pache are the only former Stripers position players making Postseason debuts in 2020. Riley has batted .235/.350/.235 in five games and is in search of his first extra-base hit and RBI. Pache, the Braves’ No. 1 prospect according to MLB.com, has played in all five games and memorably scored the game-winning run in Game 1 of the NLWCS on Freeman’s 13th-inning walk-off single. The 21-year-old has yet to log a Postseason at-bat, however, as he has been used strictly as a pinch runner and defensive replacement.

The Braves continue the 2020 MLB Postseason with the best-of-seven NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 1 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX is set for 8:08 PM ET tonight and will air on FOX.

For updates on former Gwinnett players throughout the Braves’ Postseason run, follow the Stripers on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @GoStripers.