The Atlanta Braves are making it look easy in the matchup of Major League Baseball’s top two teams, and on Sunday, the National League East leaders will go for a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Winners of the first two games of the series, the Braves have won 12 of 13 games and have posted 11 straight series victories.
Sean Murphy collected the big hit for the second straight game on Saturday. The All-Star catcher belted a three-run home run in a four-run fourth inning in a 6-1 win. It was Murphy’s two-run homer on Friday that was the difference in a 2-1 game.
Murphy has left the ballpark in three straight games, while the Braves have homered in 25 consecutive games to match a franchise record.
The Rays are reeling, having dropped seven straight.
In Sunday’s series finale, Tampa Bay will send Zach Eflin (9-4, 3.24 ERA) to the mound, while the Braves counter with All-Star Bryce Elder (7-1, 2.45).
Eflin, arguably, has been Tampa Bay’s most reliable starter in the first half, logging 97 1/3 innings. The right-hander has been able to eat up innings in a rotation that has dealt with injuries.
But in his last start, Eflin was on the losing end of a tough decision, giving up two runs on four hits in seven innings with nine strikeouts against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.
Lifetime against the Braves, Eflin is 6-3 with a 3.11 ERA in 16 appearances (13 starts).
At home this season, Eflin has stood out, posting an 8-1 record and 2.22 ERA in nine starts.
Making the pitching matchup even more compelling is the fact Elder, for Atlanta, has excelled on the road. In seven road starts, the right-hander is 4-0 (1.62 ERA).
This is Elder’s first career appearance against Tampa Bay.
In his past two starts, both wins, Elder has given up four earned runs in 12 2/3 innings.
The last time Elder lost was June 11, when he gave up five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings at home in a loss to the Washington Nationals.
With the type of high-powered offense the Braves have, Elder has the luxury of not having to pitch with the pressure of putting up zeroes.
“This is the best lineup I’ve seen, maybe ever,” Elder told MLB.com after his most recent start. “I was a Rangers fan growing up, and I watched that 2011 Rangers lineup. That was probably the best lineup I’ve ever seen until maybe this one. So, to be able to do what these guys do every day, it’s a lot of fun.”
The Rays will be without outfielder Josh Lowe, who on Saturday was placed on the family medical emergency list. Infielder Jonathan Aranda was recalled from Triple-A Durham to fill the vacated roster spot.
The Rays will be looking to manufacture some runs at a time when their offense has been struggling, scoring just two runs in the series. But one of the bright spots in the lineup has been Isaac Paredes, who has 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in 79 games.
“I like how he’s developed as an overall hitter,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s a more complete hitter at this point than he was last year at any point. Watching him make adjustments in game. Watching him shoot balls the other way with two strikes. He’s really lengthened out our lineup.”
–Field Level Media
