Game Preview: Braves send Strider to the mound as they open up a series in Pittsburgh
The Braves kick off a four game set with the Pirates tonight with their flamethrower on the bump. Hopefully, the offense continues to roll and Strider racks up the Ks so that Atlanta can get back on the winning side of some baseball games.
The Atlanta Braves are coming off a rare series loss to a red hot Cubs team. The Braves dropped the final two games in Chicago by two runs in each game, despite a pair of Matt Olson two-run homers in each.
Atlanta will look to get back to their winning ways and improve on their league high 70 win mark, as they face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first time in 2023. No better chance to do so than sending one of the most electric arms in baseball to the mound.
Pitching Matchup for Braves vs. Pirates
The Braves have a brutal stretch of baseball coming in the dead heat of the summer as they are have to go through eight games in seven days this week due to the makeup doubleheader scheduled Saturday. Atlanta won’t have an off day until August 17th, so they would very much like to see their starting pitchers working deep into game to avoid from taxing the bullpen.
In steps our mustached hero, Spencer Strider. In his last outing he got into the sixth inning while striking out nine L.A. Angels. Strider leads the NL with a 2.90 FIP and leads all of MLB in strikeouts (208) and K/9 (14.4). So look for a lot of punch outs against a lineup that shouldn’t scare you that much.
The Pirates will send Osvaldo Bido to the mound to take on this lethal Braves lineup. Bido is making just his eighth start of the season tonight. He’s repertoire isn’t anything spectacular as his fastball sits around league average mph and he’s primarily dependent on being a sinker/slider heavy pitcher.
Look for the Braves lineup to get a feel for what Bido’s offering the first time through the order then put up some healthy swings the next time around.
Braves hitter to watch
Matt Olson has seven home runs in his last nine games, and his next homer will be his 40th on the season. Olson is now slugging an absurd .605 LOL (higher than Ronald Acuna Jr. by the way) on the year. Olson has a 154 wRC+ and .404 wOBA via fangraphs. Certainly MVP worthy numbers if you ask me.
How to watch Braves vs. Pirates - 8/7/23
Date/Time/Location: 8/7/2023 at 7:05 PM EST at PNC Park
TV: Bally Sports Southeast
Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan