The Atlanta Braves will attempt to enhance their playoff probabilities once they conclude a three-game collection in opposition to the host Cincinnati Reds with a Thursday matinee.
Marcell Ozuna doubled twice and hit his first house run in 27 video games as Atlanta received 7-1 within the second sport of the collection on Wednesday. Ozuna drove in two runs to provide him 100 RBIs for the season. Ozuna is now two homers shy of a second straight 40-homer, 100-RBI season.
The veteran designated hitter batted .213 with 11 homers and 22 RBIs by the primary two months of the 2023 season.
Ozuna stated of his subsequent success, “It means quite a bit. After final yr, the tough begin, this yr began the way in which that I wished and I’ve saved it (going) all yr, (and) it has been superb and particular for me.”
Braves supervisor Brian Snitker added, “It has been superior. He is most likely gonna be one other 40 and 100 man. No person would’ve thought that from the place he began final yr. I am happy with the person, what he is executed and the way he is hung in there, and I do know his teammates actually respect him, too.”
Atlanta (82-70) stays two video games behind the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks, who sit within the ultimate two Nationwide League wild-card spots.
“The standings, we do not fear about it,” Ozuna stated. “As a participant, we do not fear about it. We simply go on the market and have enjoyable and win the sport. We simply need to win the sport and never fear about, ‘Oh, the Phillies are 10 video games (up), the Mets are one up or two up.’ No matter they’re, we simply fear about successful the sport. If we do not win the sport, we’re not gonna (catch) them.”
Cincinnati (74-79) was formally eradicated with its Wednesday loss to Atlanta. The Reds had playoff aspirations getting into 2024 however fell far quick because of accidents and suspensions, beginning in spring coaching.
The staff misplaced star infielder Matt McLain to a shoulder harm in spring coaching. First baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand sustained a season-ending damaged hand one month into the season, heart fielder TJ Friedl had three stints on the injured record, and third baseman Noelvi Marte was suspended 80 video games for violating MLB’s coverage prohibiting performance-enhancing substances.
As well as, 4 of the 5 pitchers who’ve made probably the most begins for Cincinnati this yr are presently on the injured record.
The Reds started the season 14-10 however might by no means get any higher. They’ve spent the entire second half of the season attempting to achieve .500. After the newest loss to the Braves, Cincinnati must win seven of its ultimate 9 video games to achieve break-even on the season.
“It does not change something for us,” supervisor David Bell stated. “Clearly, that is the aim, and that is the one factor that issues. However at this level it does not. That is not going to alter our method to the remainder of the video games. I am very assured seeing that with the blokes now we have in there, and we’ll proceed to play onerous like now we have all yr.”
The Braves will ship ace left-hander Chris Sale (17-3, 2.35 ERA) to the mound within the decisive sport of the collection. The percentages-on favourite for the Nationwide League Cy Younger Award might attain the 20-win plateau if he makes three extra begins and wins all of them.
Sale has received seven straight selections masking his previous 13 begins since a 1-0 highway loss to the Chicago White Sox on June 27.
The eight-time All-Star is going through Cincinnati for the second time in his profession. He gave up one run on 5 hits and one run in 3 2/3 innings in opposition to the Reds for the Boston Purple Sox on June 1, 2023, earlier than leaving the sport with a stress response in his shoulder blade and lacking greater than two months.
The Reds will counter with right-hander Julian Aguiar (2-0, 4.88 ERA), making the seventh begin of his rookie season. Aguiar earned a highway win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday, when he allowed three runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings. He’ll oppose Atlanta for the primary time.
–Subject Stage Media