White Sox at Braves
The Atlanta Braves hope a breakout performance followed by a day off will get their offense on track entering the start of a three-game home series Friday against the Chicago White Sox. The National League East leaders have won nine of their past 11 games despite hitting just .209 as a team and averaging 10.1 strikeouts per game in that span, but slumping first baseman Freddie Freeman and right fielder Matt Joyce each homered in Wednesday’s 9-4 triumph at Toronto.
Joyce, who has seen his playing time increase due to injuries in Atlanta’s outfield, is hitting .361 with a 1.022 OPS, three homers, 12 RBIs and 12 walks in 21 starts this season. Freeman went 4-for-24 with seven strikeouts on the Braves six-game, three-city road trip, finishing with two hits and two runs scored Wednesday. The White Sox have played better of late, winning four of their past eight and 13 of their past 25 following Thursday’s 10-5 home loss to Minnesota. Designated hitter Jose Abreu went 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI Thursday and is hitting .360 in August with at least one hit in 16 of his past 19 games (batting .375 in that span with four homers and 19 RBIs in that span).
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Ivan Nova (9-10, 4.37 ERA) vs. Braves TBA
Nova pitched to a 5.32 ERA while struggling through his first 17 starts, but has flourished in 10 outings since the end of June by going 6-3 with a 2.10 ERA and .238 opponents batting average. The 32-year-old has allowed one earned run or fewer six times in his past seven starts, giving up one earned run (two in total) on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts in a 4-0 loss to Texas on Saturday. Nova, who is 3-1 with a 1.09 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in five August starts, is 3-1 with a 1.98 ERA in four career starts against Atlanta - giving up two runs over six innings in a loss for Pittsburgh last season.
Left-hander Max Fried (14-4, 4.03) likely starts the opener after being hit hard in his last start Saturday against the New York Mets, giving up five runs on seven hits across five innings to get a no-decision and remain second in the NL in wins. The 25-year-old has surrendered eight runs on 15 hits in 10 innings across his past two starts, after a five-start winning streak during which he posted a 1.95 ERA with 29 strikeouts and nine walks in 27 2/3 innings. Fried, who makes his first career appearance against the White Sox, is 16-7 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 34 career starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago pitchers gave up 16 hits Thursday, after allowing just 40 hits in their previous seven games.
2. Since raising his season average to .300 on Aug. 12, Braves 2B Ozzie Albies is hitting just .145 with a .469 OPS.
3. White Sox OF Eloy Jimenez snapped a 4-for-26 skid with two hits Thursday.