The Atlanta Braves faced off against the Detroit Tigers in North Port, FL, showcasing a lineup filled with starters and marking the return of Reynaldo López after his long injury hiatus.
The Braves kicked off the game with strength both at the plate and on the mound. While the Tigers fielded a lineup with only a few regular starters, López made an impressive return in his two innings.
He faced eight batters, allowing a single to Kevin McGonigle in the first and walking Zach McKinstry in the second. Despite these minor setbacks, López struck out two batters.
However, there were two stolen bases during his stint, a detail to watch as he continues his comeback.
Grant Holmes took over for López, delivering two solid innings. He faced the minimum six batters, allowing just one walk, which was quickly erased by a double play.
Joey Wentz entered in the fifth and had a rocky start, walking the first two batters and giving up a single. An outfield assist helped mitigate the damage, but a run did score. Wentz settled down, ending his outing with three strikeouts, one hit-by-pitch, two walks, a single, and one earned run.
Owen Murphy broke the two-inning pattern, closing out the game with three innings of work. He conceded one hit-a bases-empty double-but struck out four, including an overturned call that resulted in a strikeout thanks to the ABS system.
Offensively, the Braves came out swinging, scoring three runs in the first inning. Matt Olson’s single, an error that allowed Austin Riley to reach base, and Ozzie Albies’ two-run double set the tone.
Mike Yastrzemski continued his strong spring with a double. Ronald Acuña Jr. walked but was caught stealing third, a sign of his renewed aggression on the bases after recent injuries.
The Braves’ bats quieted until the fifth when new addition Mauricio Dubón singled and scored on a Matt Olson two-run homer, extending the lead to 5-1.
After the fifth, the Braves rotated in their subs, but the offense didn’t miss a beat. Prized shortstop prospect John Gil pinch-hit in the seventh, walked, and scored, contributing to three more runs after the fifth, bringing the Braves’ total to eight.
Next up, the Braves will face the Pirates, with Bryce Elder, vying for a rotation spot, set to pitch against Pittsburgh’s ace, Paul Skenes.