Padres at Braves
The Atlanta Braves expect Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson to anchor the middle of their infield for years to come, and the duo put Atlanta in position to win its four-game home series with San Diego on Thursday with a strong showing in Wednesday’s 5-1 victory. Albies tripled and doubled while finishing with a run scored and a RBI, Swanson drove in three runs with a sacrifice fly and a two-run homer, and the two teamed up on a double play as the Braves moved back to .500.
The Braves have won three of their past four games boosted by strong starting pitching -- Max Fried allowed only one run on four hits in seven innings Wednesday -- and their shaky bullpen has settled down against the San Diego, pitching seven scoreless innings with three hits and three walks allowed through three games. Atlanta pitching has shut down the Padres in the series, holding San Diego to six runs on 16 hits in the three games. Padres shortstop Manny Machado belted his fifth homer of the season Wednesday for San Diego's lone run, and has reached base safely in 18 of his past 19 games. Second baseman Ian Kinsler snapped an 0-for-14 skid with two hits, raising his average to .151.
TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Matt Strahm (0-2, 3.04 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-0, 6.00)
Strahm has pitched well in all but one of his first five starts, giving up two earned runs or fewer four times while issuing zero walks across 19 innings in his past three outings. The 27-year-old struck out a season-high eight Friday at Washington, allowing two runs on four hits in six innings for his third consecutive no-decision. Strahm, who has limited right-handed hitters to a .200 average in 80 at-bats, has given up one run on three hits across six innings in three career appearances (two starts) against the Braves.
Foltynewicz was dominant for much of his season debut Saturday against Colorado, but gave up two homers and didn’t retire a hitter in the seventh to end up allowing four runs on six hits. The 27-year-old, a 13-game winner in 2018 who missed the first four weeks of this season with right elbow soreness, threw 52 of his 78 pitches for strikes Saturday. Foltynewicz, who makes his 98th career start Thursday, is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in three career starts vs. San Diego, allowing two runs on five hits in his lone appearance against the Padres last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta OF Ronald Acuna Jr., did not start Wednesday after hitting .220 with 15 strikeouts in 50 at-bats in his previous 13 games.
2. Padres 1B Eric Hosmer finished 0-for-4 with a strikeout, ending his five-game hitting streak.
3. Atlanta 3B Josh Donaldson (sore right calf) missed his second straight game, but is expected to play Thursday.