The Braves are rolling, and will try to extend what’s been a great summer so far by taking a series on the Reds’ home turf on Saturday afternoon. The Braves won big, 9-1, on Friday night, but had to beat up on the woeful Cincinnati bullpen to do so, as former mate Mike Minor held them to just two first-inning runs in six innings.
The Braves couldn’t solve Minor, popping up way too many of his pitches after Austin Riley’s homer. Solving today’s scheduled starter, Tyler Mahle, may not be easy, either. Mahle comes into the game with an uninspiring 103 ERA-, but his 81 FIP- and 98 xFIP- suggest something somewhat better (the FIP-xFIP gap is impressive considering his home park).