Atlanta Braves pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, May 5, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
by Brady Penn
ATLANTA — Coming off a thrilling 4-3 victory Sunday night over the reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the Braves returned to the field Monday to begin a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.
Right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver got the start for Atlanta, making his second appearance since being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett last week. The 22-year-old worked efficiently through his first three innings, allowing just two baserunners via walks.
The Braves’ offense struck in the bottom of the third. Alex Verdugo scorched a ball down the first-base line as he and Nick Allen executed a perfect hit-and-run to open the scoring. Austin Riley followed with an RBI single to drive in Verdugo, making it 2-0.
Then came the night’s wildest moment. In a lengthy at-bat, Matt Olson connected on a laser to the left-field corner. Reds left fielder Tyler Callihan crashed full-speed into the wall attempting to make the catch, allowing Olson to race around the bases for the first — and likely last — inside-the-park home run of his career.
After a lengthy delay and a Cincinnati challenge, the call stood. The Braves led 4-zip, which would prove to be enough.
Smith-Shawver kept the Reds hitless through seven innings, as murmurs of a potential no-hitter began to spread through Truist Park. He returned for the eighth inning with 91 pitches, facing the bottom of the Reds’ order.
Santiago Espinal broke up the no-hit bid with a clean single to center. Smith-Shawver ended his night by inducing a 4-6-3 double play and walked off to a standing ovation.
The rookie finished with a dominant line: eight innings pitched, one hit, no runs, and a masterful performance against Elly De La Cruz and the Reds’ offense.
Notably, Smith-Shawver has increased his fastball usage in recent outings. In his first two starts of the season, he threw his four-seamer just 28.95% of the time. Over his last three starts, including Monday’s, that number has jumped to 50.73%.
“I was just kind of feeling weird about my heater early in the year,” Smith-Shawver explained postgame. “Getting back to the basics — driving the ball, feeling more natural, and putting things together as we go on.”
The Braves will look to extend their winning streak to three games Tuesday when Chris Sale takes the mound. Sale is coming off his best outing of the 2025 season. Atlanta improved to 10-5 at home with Monday’s win.
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