Braves at Reds
Freddie Freeman remains a model of consistency in the midst of the Atlanta Braves' offense, and entering the finale of a three-game series Thursday at the Cincinnati Reds, he looks to continue his steady start to the season. The Braves' first baseman has reached base in every game so far in 2019, extending the streak to 23 games with a single in Wednesday’s 3-1 victory, pulling within four games of the Atlanta mark set by J.D. Drew in 2004.
Freeman began Wednesday ranked seventh in the National League in on-base percentage at .431, a category he has placed in the top 10 five times in his career, and Atlanta used a homer, two runs scored and two walks from second baseman Ozzie Albies to offset 12 runners left on base. Cincinnati right fielder Yasiel Puig finished 2-for-4 Wednesday and is 4-for-8 in the series with three RBIs, improving to 10-for-37 in his past 10 games after beginning the season 5-for-38. Left fielder Jesse Winker collected two hits to get his average to .200 on the season, but the Reds were held to just five hits and as a team are hitting .199 on the season – lowest in the majors. Cincinnati is 8-9 through 17 games of a 26-game stretch in which the Reds are away from home for 20 contests.
TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (2-2, 5.61 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (2-1, 1.47)
Teheran looks to erase the worst start of his season in the opener of Saturday’s doubleheader at Cleveland, as he gave up five runs on seven hits with four walks and required 106 pitches to cover 4 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old, who makes his 199th career start Thursday, allowed three runs or fewer in three of his first four starts, and has struck out at least six hitters in four of his five games. Teheran, who did not face Cincinnati last season, is 3-3 with a 3.95 ERA in seven games against the Reds in his career.
Castillo ranks second in the NL in ERA so far, and dating back to Sept. 1 last season he leads the majors with a 1.27 ERA (10 appearances). The 26-year-old matched a season high with nine strikeouts in his last start Saturday at San Diego, allowing one run on four hits with one walk in six innings of a 4-2 victory. Castillo, who has surrendered one earned run or fewer in four of his first starts and is second in the NL in strikeouts per nine innings (12.03), has given up seven runs in eight innings in two career appearances against the Braves.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta RHP Luke Jackson pitched a scoreless inning Wednesday, his 10th consecutive scoreless appearances (covering 10 1/3 innings) since allowing four runs in the season opener March 28.
2. The Reds have left 18 runners on base through the first two games of the series.
3. After walking seven hitters in 2 2/3 innings in the series opener, Braves relievers walked one hitter in 3 2/3 scoreless, hitless innings.