Yankees 3, Braves 11: A reality-defining smackdown

In the long list of worst games that the Yankees have played this season, this game will hardly appear near the top. There are more iconic and heartbreaking losses, but none will prove more of a litmus test for where this team stands than right here. The Yankees walked into Truist Park a non-playoff team and got demolished by the team with the best record in baseball, 11-3 in a completely non-competitive fashion.

Clarke Schmidt entered this game on a decent streak, having made eight consecutive starts of five or more innings allowing just three runs or less. That’s hardly ace material or anything, but in this year it was in fact good enough to make him the de facto No. 2 starter — and the…