House That Hank Built
Fansided

Atlanta Braves preview: the pivotal game three

By Jonathan Magel

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on September 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches in the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at SunTrust Park on September 19, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 31: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on July 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 31: Mike Soroka #40 of the Atlanta Braves pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on July 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Mike Soroka

We’ve heard a lot about how teams that win game one in the division series are heavily favored for the series. However, I would imagine many of those teams don’t have their ace pitching game three.

I would also imagine that those pitchers don’t have the road splits like Mike Soroka. Soroka on the road this year has pitched 16 games on the road with an ERA of 1.55 and opposing hitters hitting only .205 off of him.

Soroka has also faced the Cardinals twice this year with great success. His first start came on May 15th pitching seven innings of shutout baseball with three strikeouts.

His second start against the Cards wasn’t quite as good but still a great outing allowing one run on six innings pitched on five strikeouts.

This is great news for Braves fans looking to take the lead in the series 2-1 putting them into the driver’s seat for the series.

Adam Wainwright

The 37-year-old Adam Wainwright is not the same pitcher he once was for the St. Louis Cardinals. The starter gave solid back of the rotation production pitching 171.2 innings this year with an ERA of 4.19 while still striking out 8 per 9 innings pitched.

Those are still good numbers considering and the vet shouldn’t be taken lightly. The righty fared much better at home than on the road as well.

Wainwright started 16 games at home with a 2.56 ERA and batters hitting .253 against him. Generally, pitchers are better at home and Soroka is truly an outlier.

He pitched against the Braves just one time this year in Atlanta and got roughed up by the Braves. Wainwright managed to get through only 4 innings allowing 5 ER, as well as 5 walks, while only striking out 2.

That should be promising as the Braves look to have the same type of success Sunday.

Home/Braves News