Schedule & Probable Pitching Matchups

• Game 1 (Tuesday, June 3, 7:15 PM ET):
  • Braves: Spencer Strider (0–3, 4.50 ERA)
  • Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (3–7, 5.54 ERA)
• Game 2 (Wednesday, June 4, 7:15 PM ET):
  • Braves: Chris Sale (3–3, 3.06 ERA)
  • Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly (5–2, 3.78 ERA)
• Game 3 (Thursday, June 5, 12:15 PM ET):
  • Braves: Grant Holmes (3–4, 3.78 ERA)
  • Diamondbacks: Brandon Pfaadt (7–4, 5.05 ERA)

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Team Performance Heading into the Series

• Atlanta Braves (27–31):
  • The Braves have struggled recently, dropping four straight series and three of their last four home games. Atlanta is 3-7 in their last 10 games. The Braves are currently in fourth place in the NL East, one game back of the Washington Nationals and 10.0 games back of the division-leading New York Mets.
• Arizona Diamondbacks (28–31):
  • The Diamondbacks have also lost four straight series entering the series with the Braves. Arizona is 2-8 over their past 10 games. Additionally, their pitching staff has been hit hard by injuries, including a recent elbow issue for ace Corbin Burnes, who exited his last start early and is awaiting MRI results.

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Hot & Cold Hitters

• Braves:
  • Hot: Marcell Ozuna is batting .350 over his last 11 games, with 14 hits, 2 home runs, and a .958 OPS during that span.
  • Hot: Ronald Acuña Jr. has made a strong return from injury, hitting 3 home runs with 6 RBIs and a 1.04 OPS since rejoining the lineup. He is slashing .324/.395/.647.
  • Heating Up: Ozzie Albies has had a slow start to the season, but over his past 11 games, he has slashed .282/.391/.436 with 11 hits in his past 39 at-bats.
  • Hot: Matt Olson has 7 extra-base hits and 6 RBI over his past 11 games.
  • Cold: Drake Baldwin has been cold over his last 6 games, posting a .182 average and a .432 OPS. Baldwin is splitting time with Sean Murphy and his season numbers have been phenomenal.
• Diamondbacks:
  • Hot: Ketel Marte has a .958 OPS over his past 9 games and a .930 OPS for the season.
  • Cold: Corbin Carroll is batting .128 over his past 9 games. He does have 16 homers (T-3rd) on the season with an .877 OPS.
  • Hot: Eugenio Suarez is hitting .300 over his past 11 games and is tied with Corbin Carroll with 16 homers on the season.
  • Hot: Randal Grichuk is hitting .389 with 2 homers over his past 9 games.
  • Hot: Gabriel Moreno is hitting .323 with 2 homers over his past 9 games.

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Bullpen & Pitching Notes

• Braves:
  • Atlanta’s bullpen hasn’t been as bad as it might feel sometimes. They have a 3.59 ERA for the season, ranking 11th in MLB.
  • Closer Raisel Iglesias has struggled this year with a 5.64 ERA. Some bright spots in the bullpen include Dylan Lee (2.52 ERA), and Daysbel Hernandez has a 2.25 ERA despite 18 walks in 24 innings. Pierce Johnson has been solid with a 3.48 ERA and just five walks in 23 appearances. Enyel De Los Santos has a 3.28 ERA in 24 appearances.
  • Spencer Strider has struggled with his health this season. After returning from a year-long absence, he only made one start before missing another month. In his two starts since his return, He hasn’t made it more than 4.2 innings. However, he only allowed one run in 4.2 innings while striking out seven in his last start.
  • Through his first five starts of the season, Chris Sale had a 6.17 ERA. Since then, he’s posted a 1.42 ERA over seven outings.
• Diamondbacks:
  • Arizona’s bullpen has faced challenges, with a 5.28 ERA on the season. They have the fifth-worst bullpen ERA in all of baseball.

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Head-to-Head

• The Braves lead the season series 2–1 against the Diamondbacks.

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Other Notes

Fredi Gonzalez will make his debut as third base coach. Gonzalez was previously the Braves manager between 2011-2016. Fredi succeeded Bobby Cox and led the Braves through some solid seasons before the roster was dismantled, following the injury-plagued 2014 season.

Oh how the turn tables, Brian Snitker was third base coach for Fredi Gonzalez between 2011-2013.

Gonzalez will replace Matt Tuiasasopo, who had been criticized for sending runners into too many outs at home plate.

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