Braves at Reds
Yasiel Puig struggled in his first 19 games with the Cincinnati Reds, compiling a .164 average with a .186 on-base percentage with 20 strikeouts in 67 at-bats. But the Reds enter Wednesday's middle contest of a three-game home series with the Atlanta Braves looking to lock up a series victory after a strong showing from their new right fielder, with Puig belting a two-run homer and plating a run with a sacrifice fly in Tuesday’s 7-6 victory.
Puig enters Wednesday one hit shy of 700 for his career as the Reds have won four times in their past five games with first baseman Joey Votto, who hit leadoff for the fifth time this season and the sixth time in 1,595 career games, returned to the lineup Tuesday after missing two contests with back tightness and finished 1-for-2 with three walks. Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman extended his season-opening games reaching base streak to 21 by going 1-for-5 in the opener, hitting a game-tying single in the sixth as the Braves rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead. Center fielder Ender Inciarte, one Atlanta hitter who has struggled in the first three weeks of the season, finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base to raise his average to .216. The Braves' bullpen continues to struggle in high-leverage situations, allowing two inherited runners to score while walking seven hitters in 2 2/3 innings, and Atlanta pitchers walked a season high-tying nine hitters Tuesday.
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Soroka (0-1, 1.80 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tanner Roark (1-0, 3.60)
Soroka overcame a shoulder injury that scuttled his spring training and impressed in his major-league season debut Thursday against Arizona, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts in five innings of a 4-1 loss. The 21-year-old started two games for Triple-A Gwinnett, going 1-0 with four runs surrendered on five hits in 9 1/3 innings, and threw 58 of his 85 pitches for strikes against the Diamondbacks. Soroka is 2-2 with a 3.23 ERA, 27 strikeouts and nine walks in 30 2/3 innings in his first six major-league starts.
Roark, acquired in an offseason trade from Washington, has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his first four starts and has limited opponents to two runs in 10 2/3 innings in his past two outings. The 32-year-old earned his first victory Thursday at San Diego, striking out five with two walks and four hits surrendered in a 4-1 victory. Roark, who has limited right-handed batters to a .235 average but is getting hit at a .407 clip by left-handed batters, is 8-5 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 23 career appearances (16 starts) against Atlanta.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta announced RHP Mike Foltynewicz, sidelined since spring training with right elbow soreness, will make his season debut Saturday at home against Colorado.
2. Reds OF Phillip Ervin, called up from Triple-A Louisville to replace OF Matt Kemp (broken left rib) on the roster before Tuesday’s game, drew a bases-loaded walk during Cincinnati’s four-run sixth.
3. Braves INF/OF Charlie Culberson delivered a pinch-hit RBI double in the seventh and is 4-for-10 with two doubles, one homer and four RBIs as a pinch hitter this season.