By KEVIN MCALPIN
680 THE FAN, ATLANTA – As the Braves scored four times in the ninth to take Game One of the NLCS from the Dodgers on Monday, they did so without one of the biggest pieces of their lineup in 2020, as Adam Duvall had to exit the game in the second inning with an oblique injury, suffered on a foul ball. Duvall was replaced by top prospect Cristian Pache, who drew a pair of walks and was perfect in his chances in the outfield. While you never want to see an injury happen, you feel particularly bad for a guy like Duvall, who had 16 homers and 33 RBI in 57 games for the Braves this year. Keep in mind, this would have been a really easy season to sit out, as Duvall plays through Type One diabetes, but he trusted MLB and the health and safety guidelines and was one of the most important offensive pieces for Brian Snitker’s club this season.

With the injury, the club has replaced Duvall with Johan Camargo on the NLCS roster, ending Duvall’s season as he wouldn’t be eligible to return for a possible World Series, if the Braves should advance. Camargo gives Snit another switch hitting option off the bench, and the ability to move guys around late in games for defensive purposes. As for the everyday lineup, not much will change. Expect to see Pache get more playing time now, but other than that, everything else should remain status quo.

Meanwhile, the Braves (on paper) catch a break tonight in Game Two as Clayton Kershaw was scratched due to back spasms. In his stead, Los Angeles will go with 26 year old RHP Tony Gonsolin who was 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA in nine appearances, eight starts this season for the Dodgers. Gonsolin is tough, allowing one earned or none in six of those nine appearances this year, however, for his career, Clayton Kershaw had an 0.43 ERA in four lifetime Postseason starts versus Atlanta.

Kevin McAlpin has covered the Braves since 2012 for @680TheFan and the @BravesRadioNet