There is no sugar coating it, the Atlanta Braves need to score more runs if they want to be successful. They face the Athletics today averaging 3.8 runs score per game against two teams that are not exactly World Series favorites.
Only ten teams in MLB are scoring fewer runs per game than the Braves so far this season. Fortunately, one of those teams are the Athletics with 3.20. Outside of Drake Baldwin, the hear of the order has struggled thus far. Acuña has an OPS of .496, Olson has a .668, and Riley has a .522. These three need to step it up if the Braves are going to make it back to the playoffs.
Today the Braves will bring the exact same lineup they had yesterday where they failed to produce more than two runs.
In good news, some players in this lineup have a solid track record against Luis Severino. Olson has a .445 average and 1.145 OPS against him, while Acuña and Harris have been successful with each producing a 1.500 OPS against him. Riley has also been solid with an .875 OPS. Baldwin has never faced him, but signs point to the heart of the Braves order being able to turn things around. It should be noted though that no player has more than twelve at-bats against Severino on the roster.
The Athletics are opting for a lineup that is much weaker than it was yesterday. Star first baseman Nick Kurtz is getting the day off, former Braves’ prospect Shea Langeliers will be DHing rather than catching, and Lawrence Butler is not in the lineup today.
Reigning ROTY Kurtz will not be in the lineup, which could be a good thing for the Braves even if he has struggled to start the year. That being said, it is clear that the Athletics are trying to shake things up. At first glance it almost seemed different enough that one may assume it is because Sale is a lefty, but José Suarez is also a lefty.
It is also a bit shocking not to see Jeff McNeil in the lineup today. He has faced Sale more than anyone and has a solid track record of a .444 average in his nine at-bats. McNeil also was supposedly brought on as a platoon bat against lefties.
The Braves look to have an advantage in this game from a lineup perspective. Chris Sale could not have asked for better matchups today.
First pitch is at 12:15 PM EDT
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