Here are three takeaways from a win that concluded what was a trying road trip:\n\n**Like riding a bike** \nMarkakis elected not to play this season on July 6 and then began working out again with the Braves on July 29. Snitker was never concerned about the three weeks of inactivity. He has said multiple times that the veteran outfielder will still be be able to hit when he’s in his 50s.\n\nSnitker’s assessment has seemed valid as Markakis has hit .323 (10-for-31) with a .912 OPS over the 11 games he has played since being activated on Aug. 5. His walk-off homer against the Blue Jays on Aug. 6 capped a 7-2 homestand, and his two key hits in Sunday's finale against the Marlins once again energized the Braves.
\n\n
\n\n“So you want two pizzas? Just for you?”
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) August 16, 2020
Me: pic.twitter.com/ICM7cGnagS
“It works in a DH lineup,” Snitker said. “It doesn’t work when you’re two hitters away from the pitcher in a \\[traditional\\] National League lineup. It’s something I may explore again even tomorrow, because Freddie came up in some big spots today. There’s a reason some of those guys hit second in the American League. With this DH thing going forward, it might not be a bad thing.”\n\nSo this might not have been the last time Freeman hits second, even after both Acuña and Albies return. The first baseman’s only previous start as Atlanta’s No. 2 hitter came during a 5-4 loss in Milwaukee on April 6, 2011. That was just the seventh start of his career.\n\n**Much-needed stability** \nAcuña hit three home runs during last Sunday's doubleheader sweep in Philadelphia and then incurred the wrist injury that will sideline him until at least Friday. But putting the 22-year-old outfielder on the IL with Albies was not as frustrating as the results the Braves were getting from their fractured rotation, which currently consists of just three members.\n\nWhile Markakis delivered the big hits, much of the credit for Sunday’s win should be given to
“We’re kind of getting to the point where any time we can get a start of four innings or more, that’s a really good thing,” Snitker said.\n\nThis marked just the 14th time in 23 games the Braves have received at least four innings from a starting pitcher. They had to go with a bullpen game three times over the past seven games, and the starters not named