The Atlanta Braves encountered a setback this past weekend as they dropped the series to the Miami Marlins, following a recent sweep of the New York Mets. They currently hold a three-game lead as they prepare to face the Mets once again.
The Braves have shown a stark contrast in performance depending on their location, boasting a home record of 22-15 while struggling with a 13-26 record on the road. This raises questions about how they will fare as they head north for the upcoming series.
In this next matchup, the Braves will face pitcher Paul Blackburn for the second time, having previously met him just last Wednesday. Blackburn has had a challenging season, making four appearances with two of those as starts, and carrying a 6.92 ERA and a 1.692 WHIP. In his recent outing against the Braves, he managed to go only 3.2 innings, conceding three earned runs in the process.
On the mound for the Braves will be Spencer Schwellenbach, who is set to start against the Mets for the second consecutive game. In his last performance, Schwellenbach put forth a commendable effort, throwing 7.0 innings while allowing four earned runs, including two home runs. He did manage to rack up eight strikeouts, demonstrating his ability to pitch deep, and ultimately leading to a Braves victory through late-game heroics.
An interesting note concerning Schwellenbach is that his two walks in his last game marked his highest in any outing this season, excluding intentional walks. He is maintaining an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.75. Furthermore, his walk rate sits well within the top 4.0 percent of Major League Baseball, and his ERA of 3.26 stands 26.0 percent better than the league average. While his expected ERA (xERA) is slightly higher at 3.63, it still ranks among the best in the league.
Despite the possibility of regression, Schwellenbach has been a reliable element of the Braves’ rotation amid injuries to other key players.
Even though the Braves lost two out of three games to the Marlins, they have excelled recently, winning seven of their last ten matchups. Conversely, the Mets have struggled, losing eight of their last ten games.
Tonight, the Braves seek to extend their winning streak against the Mets, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EDT.
Game Information:
– Date/Time: Monday, June 23, 7:10 p.m. EDT
– Location: Citi Field, Flushing, NY
– TV: FanDuel Sports South, Southeast
– Streaming: MLB.tv
– Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
This game will be an important test for both teams, and a victory could help solidify the Braves’ standing in the league while continuing their momentum as they push toward the postseason.