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Series Preview: Atlanta Braves take on the Pittsburgh Pirates

By Matthew Browning

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 02: Starling Marte #6 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Melky Cabrera #53 after coming around to score in the fourth inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on June 2, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 02: Starling Marte #6 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Melky Cabrera #53 after coming around to score in the fourth inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on June 2, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MAY 28: Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning of an MLB game against the Washington Nationals at SunTrust Park on May 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 28: Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning of an MLB game against the Washington Nationals at SunTrust Park on May 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Game 1-Max Fried vs. Steven Brault

Things were going so well for Max Fried, who is 7-3 with a 3.19 ERA this season.

Then his start against the Nationals happened, where he allowed four earned runs and nine hits over 5.2 innings.

It remains to be seen how much cause for concern this should be, but in his previous four starts before that, his ERA was 4.50 over 18 innings.

Fried is a nice piece to the rotation, but we might be seeing him come down to Earth a little bit after the torrid start.

The good (or maybe bad) thing in this matchup is he has not faced the Pirates before.

Facing off against Fried and the Braves is Steven Brault, who is 2-1 with a 5.87 ERA in 2019.

Brault started two games for the Pirates in early May and that was a disaster, as he allowed eight earned runs in 7.2 innings.

So Clint Hurdle and company moved Brault to the bullpen where it was a little better (4.00 ERA in 9 innings).

He had a chance at redemption as a starter on May 29 and was much better. He allowed no earned runs and three hits in 5.1 innings.

Brault has faced the Braves twice in his career; both coming out of the bullpen. His numbers are a 0-1 record with a 2.08 ERA.

Ozzie Albies is 2-3, Johan Camargo is 2-3 and Ronald Acuna is 2-2 off Brault.

The body of work suggests the Braves chances are good in this matchup, but for some reason Fried’s last start still makes me nervous.

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