The Evening TiltTuesday, April 14, 2026
The Braves trailed by two in the eighth. Dominic Smith cleared the bases. Raisel Iglesias reached 100 saves as a Brave. One game, two stories worth telling.
One game tonight, one swing that mattered.
Braves
Trailing 3-5 in the bottom of the eighth, the Braves loaded the bases. Dominic Smith — the minor-league invitee who has quietly become the most productive bat in the lineup — roped a double to center off Pete Fairbanks, clearing the bases and flipping the score to 6-5. Raisel Iglesias closed the ninth with two strikeouts for his 100th save as an Atlanta Brave.
Smith went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI. The Braves' highest-paid trio — Olson, Riley, Acuña — went a combined 1-for-11. Reynaldo López started and labored through five innings (4 R, 3 BB, 6 K) before the bullpen held it together across four innings. Braves win 6-5. Record: 11-7, still first in the NL East.
Ellis has the full breakdown — it's one of his sharper pieces this week.
The Marlins series is tied 1-1. Tomorrow's rubber game determines whether the Braves' streak of not losing a completed series in 2026 survives.
Hawks
No game tonight. Four days until the real thing begins. Game 1 at Madison Square Garden is Saturday at 6 PM — the Hawks' first playoff game since 2023. Simone's piece on what it means to return to the Garden without Trae Young and Dex's response to SI's upset framing are both worth reading before Saturday if you haven't yet. The question between now and tip-off: how does Quin Snyder use these four days? Lineup decisions, defensive assignments, and Jody Landale's ankle will all be resolved before the plane lands in New York.
Atlanta United
US Open Cup tomorrow night. Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium, 7:30 PM. Lower-division opponent, road match, and a chance for Tata Martino to rotate the lineup and get some minutes into legs that need them. In a season where the league table has been unkind, a cup run might be the cleanest path to something resembling momentum.
Falcons
Nine days to the draft. Five picks, starting at 48 in the second round. The new regime — Stefanski, Cunningham, Ryan — has been clear about wanting more selections, not fewer. Watch for trade-back scenarios once the board starts to fall.
One more thing.
Iglesias's 100th save as a Brave happened on a night nobody will remember by September. That is exactly how you accumulate 100 saves. Not through October heroics or signature moments, but through nine-inning Tuesdays in April against the Marlins. The milestone is the routine. That is the whole point.
The Tilt
Dominic Smith on a split contract is the best DH value in baseball right now.
— Ray Piedmont
What's your take?
Ray Piedmont
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