Despite the injuries, the Braves are playing their best baseball since early April, winners of nine of their last eleven, which has made this weekend’s series with the Phillies a lot more interesting. Atlanta sits just five games back of Philadelphia as they head to Citizens Bank Park for a four-game set.
Unfortunately, the Braves won’t have the leading candidate for the NL Cy Young award, Chris Sale, for this series, who pitched last night, but everybody in the rotation has played their part as of late.
—
Thursday: Charlie Morton vs. Cristopher Sanchez
Friday: Reynaldo Lopez vs. Ranger Suarez
Saturday: Max Fried vs. Zack Wheeler
Sunday: Spencer Schwellenbach vs. Aaron Nola
—
The Phillies might have an edge in Game 1 with Sanchez starting against Charlie Morton, but it really depends which version of Morton shows up. The veteran hasn’t had his best year, but on multiple occasions has shown he’s fully capable of turning back the clock. The Braves need him at his best tonight, because if they can steal Game 1, you have to like their chances of winning the series.
Reynaldo Lopez and Ranger Suarez is a battle of two of the more surprising pitchers this year. Both were deserving All-Stars amid career-years. Max Fried and Zack Wheeler is a classic matchup of aces, but the Braves best matchup might surprisingly be in the series finale. That’s no knock on Aaron Nola, who is as consistent as they come, but Spencer Schwellenbach has been unbelievable for going on two months now. It would be really fun if the Braves could get to that game with at least two wins under their belt.
—
Photo: John Adams/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.