BRONX, NY — On a weekend in the Bronx celebrating the New York Yankees’ 1996 World Series championship win over the Atlanta Braves, of course it was appropriate that the two of MLB’s better teams in 2026 met again.
The Yankees and Braves, two of MLB’s prominent winning franchises, revived some memories in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
On Saturday, the Yankees held its 78th annual Old-Timers’ Day and honored the 1996 World Series championship winning team as 2026 marks 30 years since the Yankees defeated the Braves in the 1996 Fall Classic – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Thirty years removed from Chipper Jones’ dramatics, forever a part of Braves history and Derek Jeter, an icon in the Bronx, who was not in attendance for Old-Timers’ Day, Yankee players on the field proudly wear pinstripes and for Atlanta, a tomahawk on their jerseys.
Three decades later both franchises are sure bets to be postseason bound.
Braves-Yankees this weekend in the Bronx had rain delays, ejections, comebacks and everything in between with New York taking two out of three – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
So for three games in the Bronx, there were implications with each decided by one run. The Braves (71-47) continued to hold first place in the NL East over the Phillies, as the Yankees (66-52), with some offensive struggles, displayed how dominant starting pitching can win ballgames. Despite a team struggling to score runs, trailing Tampa Bay in the AL East and with command for the first AL Wild Card spot, the Yankees managed to win two of three.
Of course, there is a possibility the Yankees and Braves could meet in late October, a revival of that Fall Classic in ‘96. Though leave that for another time with 44 games remaining in the dog days of August and that September stretch.
Chris Sale was called for a balk in his outing Saturday afternoon and was ejected just ahead of Sunday’s first pitch at Yankee Stadium for stating his claim about it again – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Regardless, prior to the finale Sunday afternoon, a longtime NL scout said to me: “Both are good teams and if they stay healthy, it is possible.”
He referred to a strong Yankees rotation that allowed two runs or fewer in 10 of their last 12 starts, including one run or fewer in nine of those starts.
On Sunday afternoon, it was Cam Schlittler who did not figure in the decision in the Yankees’ 2-1 loss in 10 innings. Schlittler again was dominant (7.0 IP, 3H, 1ER, 0 BB, 11 Ks), marking the third time in his young career with 10 or more strikeouts while allowing no walks.
The lone blemish was in the seventh inning on a one-out 2-0 split-fingered fastball that Matt Olson hit to right center for his 34th home run of the season and gave the Braves a 1-0 lead. A pitching duel with Schlittler and Atlanta’s right-hander Grant Holmes, continuing to solidify his role, going six innings and surrendering no runs, three hits and two walks.
It was the Schlittler show as he kept 2023 NL LatinoMVP Ronald Acuña Jr. (0-for-4) off the bases and worked enough to overlook the sluggish Yankees offense.
The Yankees kept Ronald Acuña Jr. to little damage at the plate with three hits, one for a HR and one RBI across the three games this weekend between Atlanta and New York – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Good outings from Schlittler, Gerrit Cole Saturday (7.0 innings with two runs allowed) and 6.1 shutout innings from Max Fried in a rain delayed opening series game Friday night is enough to say the Yankees pitching is their strength.
Michael Harris II, with a 10th inning single off reliever Paul Blackburn, was the difference as the Yankees dropped their ninth in 11 extra inning games.
Indeed, this was the climax of a series that had rain delays, failure of both teams hitting in the clutch, and the ghost runner being an extra inning difference. Indeed, the ballgames are more significant this time of year with a division leading team and another chasing for the top spot.
“Regardless of the score, you always want to try to put yourself in the position to be perfect and set you team up for a win,” Schlittler said.
Cam Schlittler tossed seven innings with 11 strikeouts in Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Braves and allowed one earned run on a Matt Olson solo blast – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Dom Smith of the Braves was a Schlittler victim, striking out four times and said: “Great young pitcher, seen them in my career. This was an unbelievable series.”
“We’re looking forward to playing them. It’s going to be a good battle if we meet each other,” referring to a possible matchup in October.
The Braves, placing themselves in a great position (21-13 since July 1), have depth at every position, giving manager Walt Weiss the ability to maneuver in late innings.
Matt Olson and the Braves will be a tough matchup for any NL team to get past come the time for October baseball – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
He removed the hot hitting Olson in the 10th at first base for Smith who has been the everyday DH. It was more than analytics there, or a lefty-righty switch if the game went on.
“He (Smith) has ability at first base,” commented Weiss about the move. “We are in a good spot. Well pitched series. Bullpen did a great job. Faced all three of their aces, Seems like all the home runs of Olson tie the game or something else.”
And there was the drama Friday evening. A Braves 3-2 loss in 10-innings as reliever Tyler Kinley got Ryan McMahon out on a sacrifice fly to right that scored Luis García Jr., securing the walk-off win for the Yankees.
On Sunday, the good friends and former teammates met again in the 10th with Kinley winning the latest battle. He earned his first save and retired the Yankees in order, striking out the left-handed swinging McMahon to end the game.
Trent Grisham’s solo home run in the eighth, his solo shot and eighth of the season, tied the score. Many thought this was going to be a Yankees sweep, but that was until the 10th, the second going into extras in three games.
“We had better at-bats as a club, but still we gotta find a way to push it across,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
Another series like this in October? That would be ideal.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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