The Braves will look to build on a complete game two performance in this afternoon's rubber match. Now one home run today from 40, Ronald Acuña Jr. will have an ideal matchup to knock the milestone. Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola is a crafty veteran but has been susceptible to the long ball, giving up 31 this year. In ten games, the two have faced each other, Acuña is batting .333 with two homers.
Bryce Elder will seek to redeem his last performance vs. the Marlins. The Phillies may be the perfect team for him to get back on track. In his only game against the Phillies, he went nearly seven scoreless innings while the opposing lineup hit just .150.
Pitching Matchup: Braves vs. Phillies
The Braves will be turning to Bryce Elder for his 29th season start. The young righty has performed well, owning a 3.50 ERA and a 12-4 record. While he has pitched well, his last start was a challenge facing a surging Marlins team. Elder will look to get back on track, taking on the Phillies for the final time before potentially playoffs.
When watching Elder, expect four pitches to keep batters guessing. He primarily relies on a 90 mph Sinker with an 83 mph slider. The two pitches are mixed with an occasional 85 mph change and a 91 mph fourseam fastball. Elder is at his best when pitching for groundballs. His slider has some significant movement along with his changeup to generate whiffs.
The Phillies will send veteran Aaron Nola to the mound, who has struggled recently. Over his last three games, Nola has allowed 13 earned runs, raising his ERA to 4.62 with a 12-9 record. While there have been some recent struggles, Nola is always a tough matchup, and it will be good for the Braves bats to see again this close to October. When watching Nola, expect an upper 70s curve with a lot of movement mixed with a 93 mph fourseamer. He will also toss a Sinker, Changeup, and Cutter combination to keep batters on their toes.
Braves Batters to Watch
Marcell Ozuna continued to hit for consistency, knocking in three runs over game two. As he continues to hit well, look to see if he can find an edge in a matchup that has traditionally been difficult for the DH.
Michael Harris II has been in somewhat of a slump, going hitless in his previous two matches. However, he was able to hit some power during his outs yesterday. Another player that prides himself on consistency, look for Harris to bounce back in a low-key day game before heading to a struggling Nationals team.
Where to watch
Date/Time/Location: 9/20/2023 at 12:20 PM EST at Truist Park
TV: Bally Sports Southeast
Radio: 680 AM/ 93.7 FM The Fan