The Atlanta Braves face the Milwaukee Brewers in the concluding game of a challenging series. After experiencing a frustrating season, the return of pitcher Spencer Strider from injury has provided a glimmer of hope for the Braves. Although he is still striving to regain his former dominant form, Strider has shown flashes of brilliance.
Initially, Strider’s comeback was marred by rustiness, demonstrated by a 5.40 ERA and 5.59 FIP over his first five starts. He struggled with his control, walking eleven batters while striking out only twenty-four, resulting in an average of just 4.8 strikeouts per game. He allowed an average of one home run and 4.2 hits per start during that period.
However, in his subsequent nine starts, Strider has significantly improved with a 2.91 ERA and a 3.07 FIP, tallying sixty-eight strikeouts and twenty-one walks. This translates to an impressive 7.6 strikeouts per game, while maintaining a relatively low home run rate of 0.6 per game.
On the opposing side, Brewers pitcher Jose Quintana has had a solid season with a 3.50 ERA but may be benefitting from some good fortune, as suggested by his SO/BB ratio and FIP of 4.85. The Braves have several players who have historically fared well against him. Notably, Ozzie Albies boasts a .500 batting average across sixteen at-bats against Quintana, hitting three home runs. Marcell Ozuna has also excelled against him with a .423 average in twenty-six at-bats.
The Brewers’ bullpen has been decently performing in the top ten xFIP rankings this year. For the Braves to secure a win, they will aim to capitalize on scoring early against Quintana, hoping their bullpen can maintain the lead.
Tonight’s match begins at 7:15 p.m. EDT at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA, and will be broadcasted on FanDuel Sports South, with streaming available on MLB.tv. This showdown brings a blend of excitement and potential as the Braves look to turn their season around.