Diamondbacks at Braves
There were some quiet concerns around Josh Donaldson only taking 23 at-bats in spring training, but the Atlanta Braves' third baseman is producing at the plate entering Tuesday’s three-game series opener at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The 33-year-old Donaldson brings a seven-game hitting streak into Tuesday, including three consecutive two-hit contests, his first two homers and three RBIs of the season, and a .385 average with a 1.323 OPS during the streak.
Partly due to Donaldson’s hot week and partly due to the work of second baseman Ozzie Albies at the top of the lineup - where it appears he will stay full-time for the foreseeable future – the Braves' offense is rolling, averaging 6.3 runs and 10 hits across its past six games with 10 homers and a .288/.370/.510 slash line. The Diamondbacks used a strong showing from starting pitcher Zack Greinke on the mound, and at the plate, to snap a four-game losing streak Sunday with an 8-4 victory over San Diego. The last three of those defeats were by one run, frustrating for a team that began the week third in the National League in runs scored (87) but sat last in team ERA (5.56). First baseman Christian Walker snapped a 2-for-28 skid with three hits Sunday, including a homer and a double.
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (0-1, 3.52 ERA) vs. Braves LH Max Fried (2-0, 0.00)
The National League leader in strikeouts per nine innings in 2017, Ray has fanned 22 hitters in 15 1/3 innings through three starts but also walked 11 hitters. The 27-year-old issued five free passes in each of his first two starts but only walked one with 10 strikeouts across five innings in a no-decision against Texas on Wednesday. Ray, who gave up one run on two hits in his last start, is 0-2 with a 4.11 ERA in three career games against Atlanta.
Fried has excelled in two relief outings and two starts so far in 2019, winning starts against the Chicago Cubs and Colorado while allowing just one unearned run in 12 innings in those two outings. The 25-year-old has struck out nine and permitted only seven total baserunners in those starts, giving up that one unearned run on five hits in six innings last Tuesday at Colorado. Fried, who is 4-3 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 11 career starts, makes his first-ever appearance against Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks OF David Peralta slugged his first career pinch-hit homer Sunday, hitting a three-run shot in the sixth inning.
2. Braves RF Nick Markakis has homered in each of the past two games and is hitting .409 with seven RBIs and six runs scored across his past six contests.
3. Arizona pitchers struck out nine hitters Sunday, snapping a streak of at least 10 strikeouts recorded in six consecutive games.