Reds at Braves
Joey Votto is regarded as one of the best hitters in the majors, and the Cincinnati Reds first baseman continues to excel after a slow start to his season entering Saturday’s game at the Atlanta Braves. The 35-year-old, who reached mid-May hitting .206 through his first 38 games, went 2-for-3 with a walk, a two-run homer, two runs scored and three RBIs in Friday’s 5-2 victory to give him a .298 mark with eight homers, 15 doubles, 27 walks and 29 RBIs in his past 64 contests.
Rookie center fielder Nick Senzel added two hits Friday to raise his average to .389 in his past 16 games as the Reds won for the eighth time in their past 13 games and beat Atlanta for the third time in five meetings this season. The Braves saw their three-game winning streak end as their offense sputtered, collecting only four hits. One encouraging sign was struggling left fielder Austin Riley, mired in a 10-for-68 slump with two homers in 22 games entering Friday, hitting his 17th homer (first since July 6) and being robbed of extra bases on a great catch by Senzel at the fence in deep center field. Atlanta center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. belted a 463-foot homer, tying Freddie Freeman for the team lead with 26 longballs.
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Trevor Bauer (9-8, 3.79 ERA) vs. Braves LH Dallas Keuchel (3-4, 3.86)
Bauer was one of the biggest names moved at the trade deadline after pitching a major-league leading 156 2/3 innings in 24 starts for Cleveland, ending his Indians career by throwing the ball over the center-field fence while being removed from Sunday’s start in Kansas City. The 28-year-old gave up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in his Cleveland finale, after pitching to a 2.30 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings across his four previous starts. Bauer faced the Braves on April 20 in Cleveland, striking out 10 and allowing two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision.
Keuchel struggled with his control in his last outing Monday at Washington, walking four and hitting a batter while giving up four runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 6-3 loss. The 31-year-old makes his ninth appearance since signing with Atlanta in early June, allowing three earned runs or fewer six times while posting a 1.33 WHIP with 47 hits allowed across 49 innings. Keuchel, who is 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in three home starts, gave up two runs over seven innings in his lone career appearance against Cincinnati in 2016 while pitching with Houston.
WALK-OFFS
1. Braves RHP Chris Martin made his Braves debut, pitching a perfect eighth inning with a strikeout.
2. Reds rookie RF Aristides Aquino is 0-for-6 in two games since being promoted to the majors Thursday.
3. Atlanta SS Dansby Swanson (bruised right heel) is eligible to come off the injured list Saturday, but manager Brian Snitker told reporters pregame it’s not likely he will be ready.