AJ Smith-Shawver Comments on Disappointing Mistakes During Loss to Dodgers

The Atlanta Braves opened the National League Division Series with a 5-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, and right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver was responsible for the two biggest mistakes of the day.

Smith-Shawver entered in the fourth inning in relief of Victor Mederos with the Braves already trailing by two runs. He entered with one out and one runner on. Fortunately, he limited the damage. Smith-Shawver also put up a scoreless fifth before manager Walt Weiss decided to leave him in for the sixth.

That is when he took the most damage. He allowed a base hit to Teoscar Hernandez who scored on a two-run homer hit by Kyle Tucker.

Max Muncy followed later on in the inning with a solo shot, giving Los Angeles a 5-1 lead the Braves could not overcome. Smith-Shawver finished with three runs allowed on three hits, two walks and two strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings.

He did not hide from the mistakes afterward. Smith-Shawver said he knew the fastball to Tucker was poorly located. He was less critical of the pitch to Muncy.

"Thought for sure the fastball to Tucker was bad. Trying to get a little more up and in, left it a little low. Then Muncy with the splitter, I don't hate the pitch that much. Just in a zone where he handles stuff well," Smith-Shawver said, via Chad Bishop of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The outing was a disappointing moment in what has already been a difficult year for the 23-year-old. Smith-Shawver returned in July after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2025 and spent most of the season trying to re-establish himself as a starter.

He finished the regular season with a 6.61 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 27 strikeouts over 31 1/3 innings across nine appearances including five starts.

The Braves eventually moved him to the bullpen in September, where his fastball velocity became a bigger weapon. He reached 100.3 mph during a two-inning scoreless appearance against Houston on September 20th, giving Atlanta a reason to view him as a potential multi-inning option in the postseason.

That is exactly the role he was asked to fill Saturday, and it did not go as planned. Ozzie Albies hit a two-run homer in the ninth to make it 5-3, but the Dodgers held on with Evan Phillips getting the last out and the save. Atlanta now trails 1-0 in the best-of-five series.

The Braves finished 94-68 and won the NL East. The Dodgers won 100 games and took the NL West. Atlanta needs a response in Game 2, and Smith-Shawver may still have a role to play as this series moves forward.