Braves lean toward underdog role, AJ Preller talks roster, Yuki Matsui makes roster – San Diego Union-Tribune

The Braves landed in San Diego around midnight on Tuesday. It was 3 a.m. on the East Coast, where they were having a subdued celebration in the home clubhouse at Truist Park, flying cross-country to extend their season after winning the second half of a doubleheader and trying to celebrate a wild day.

At this point, all Matt Olson could think about was exhaustion.

When they arrived at Petco Park for the first game of the NL Wild Card Series, Olson and his teammates had an “us versus them” mentality.

“I think when people think you can’t do something, that drives you,” the Braves first baseman said. “We don't listen. We don't go looking for the chatter. Sometimes you hear something. That can absolutely drive you.”

The Braves have no choice in the matter. (Except maybe we play the hurricane-affected games earlier than Monday at a neutral site, right?)

Heading into the postseason for the seventh straight year, the Braves had already beaten the odds to get here after losing reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., slugger Austin Riley and Cy Young candidate Spencer Strider this year Had played long stretches of the season without four-time All-Star Ozzie Albies.

Then between games on Monday it became public that Chris Sale had been dealing with back spasms since his last start on September 19th.

Not only was this year's presumptive NL Cy Young winner not in the starting lineup in Game 162, Sale remained in Atlanta to continue treatment while the Braves' leadership team huddled on the plane to San Diego to discuss who could potentially send them to the mound as the starter in Game 1 against the Padres.

They chose 21-year-old AJ Smith-Shawver. He found out about 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Bryce Elder was also expected to help in the bullpen as the Braves used nine pitchers on Monday, including their top leverage arms (Raisel Iglesias and Joe Jimenez) twice.

“We’re definitely the underdogs,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.