The Braves get a heavyweight test Tuesday night at Truist Park, where they open a series against the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Atlanta already owns one series edge this year, taking two of three from Los Angeles in the clubs’ first meeting of the season. But the Dodgers arrive rolling. They’ve won six straight and are one game back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the National League.
The Braves, meanwhile, have hit a rough patch. They’ve lost seven of their last 10, and their NL East lead is down to three games. The Philadelphia Phillies have surged with nine straight wins and are pushing hard for the division crown.
Tuesday’s game will be played at Truist Park, with Bryce Elder set to start for Atlanta and Tyler Glasnow listed for Los Angeles.
Here are the lineups:
Braves: DH Drake Baldwin
RF Ronald Acuña Jr. 1B Matt Olson
SS Mauricio Dubón CF Michael Harris II
2B Ozzie Albies LF Mike Yastremski
3B Austin Riley C Sean Murphy
P: Bryce Elder
Dodgers: DH Shohei Ohtani
1B Freddie Freeman SS Mookie Betts
3B Max Muncy 2B Tommy Edman
RF Kyle Tucker LF Alex Call
CF Alek Thomas C Hunter Feduccia
P: Tyler Glasnow
The Dodgers’ injury list includes Kris Bubic, Ben Casparius, Edwin Diaz, Brusdar Graterol, Will Klein, Bobby Miller, Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing, Will Smith, Gavin Stone, Blake Treinen and Justin Wrobleski.
The Braves and Gray Media will simulcast 25 games for free, over the air, across Braves Country on local television stations in 26 markets throughout the Southeast. Fans can check local Gray Media station listings for broadcast times, channel information and other details.
In Other News...
Tyler Mahle Just Forced A Braves Decision They Didn't Expect
Tyler Mahle arrived in Atlanta at the trade deadline as rotation depth, the kind of move that usually blends into the background by October. Instead, his first 23.2 innings with the Braves have made him look like much more than a short-term insurance policy, with a 1.52 ERA, a 3.00 FIP, 23 strikeouts and just five walks. For a club that has spent the season trying to piece together pitching answers, that kind of performance changes the conversation fast.
Now the Braves have a decision they probably did not expect to be making. Keeping Mahle beyond this season would mean weighing what he has shown in a small sample against the realities of the upcoming offseason and the uncertainty that comes with collective bargaining agreement talks ahead. For a front office that added him to stabilize the present, his early work has opened the door to a much more complicated question about the future. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Bullpen Gets One Encouraging Sign Fans Needed Right Now
The Braves have spent much of the season waiting for their pitching depth to sort itself out, and Robert Suarez offered a small but meaningful step in that direction. He has progressed in his throwing program, is out to 100 feet now and could move into bullpen sessions soon, with a rehab assignment expected to follow if all goes well.
For a staff that still has several uncertain arms in the mix, any forward movement matters. Spencer Schwellenbach, Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Strider are all continuing their throwing programs, while Joe Jimenez has been working through bullpen sessions after knee surgeries even though a return this season looks unlikely. The picture remains unsettled, but Suarezs progress gives Atlanta at least one encouraging sign to track as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Are Spending Big And Getting A Worrying Return
The Braves have not exactly tiptoed into this era of contention. Over the past two offseasons, they have leaned into free agency with real money, expecting that a few calculated additions would deepen a roster built to win now. Instead, the return has been uneven at best, with key signings such as Jurickson Profar and Ha-Seong Kim among the names that have not delivered the kind of impact Atlanta was buying.
Altogether, the club has committed about $148.25 million to free agents who have produced far less value than projected, a gap that becomes even more noticeable when the team is already in position to chase another postseason run. The Braves also stood relatively quiet at the trade deadline despite their strong record, leaving the front office under a familiar microscope as the season moves into its stretch run. [Read more 🡒]