Smith-Shawver’s fastball was his go-to weapon, but he effectively mixed in his curveball and splitter to keep Cincinnati off balance. He walked two in the first, two more in the fourth, but then retired 10 straight before Espinal’s hit. At one point, it seemed inevitable.

AJ Smith-Shawver was rolling right along when he realized his Atlanta Braves teammates were beginning to avoid him

Smith-Shawver was at 91 pitches through seven innings and held a 4-0 lead. Copyright 2025 The. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.