MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves (60-28) at Tampa Bay Rays (57-35)

ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:

Last Game
The Braves today play their final game of the proverbial first half of the season, and will go into the All-Star break with the best record in baseball regardless of today’s outcome. The Braves are 60-28 (.682). With a win today, Atlanta will tie the modern-era (since 1900) franchise record for wins before the break, with 61. The 2003 Braves were 61-32 at the break, playing 93 total games. Atlanta will play just 89 games before the break this year. Also regardless of today’s game, the Braves will enter the break with the best first-half winning percentage for the club in the modern era, better than the .670 mark set by the 1998 club (59-29).

TODAY’S GAME: The Braves and Rays are set to conclude a three-game series today in what is the only scheduled meetings between the two teams this season…Atlanta and Tampa Bay are playing for the first time since 2021.

• The Braves beat the Rays, 6-1, last night and have won the first two games of this series.
• This series sets the best record in the National League (Atlanta, 60-28, .682) versus the best record in the American League (Tampa Bay, 57-35, .620)… These are two of just three teams in baseball with winning percentages over .600.
• The Braves and Rays have played 41 times since Tampa Bay was awarded a franchise for the 1998 season, with Atlanta going 26-15 (.634) all-time against the Rays…Atlanta has lost the season set in just three of the 12 seasons in which the clubs have met.
• Atlanta last played here at Tropicana Field during the 60-game 2020 season, and last played here with patrons attending in 2018…The Braves are 15-8 (.652) all-time in this stadium, but were swept in two games here in 2020.
• RH Bryce Elder has never faced Tampa Bay, nor has he ever pitched against a member of the Rays current roster…The 6-foot-2, 220-pound righthander was named to the NL All-Star team last week in his first full major league season, and enters today with a 7-1 record and a majors-leading 2.45 ERA (28 ER/102.2 IP).
• RH Zach Eflin is set to make his 17th career appearance and 14th start against Atlanta, and is 6-3 with a 3.11 ERA (28 ER/81.0 IP) over his first 16 games versus the Braves…The 6-foot-6, 220-pound native of Orlando, FL, made three relief appearances against Atlanta last season while with the Phillies, and did not allow a run in 3.2 innings…In 16 starts for Tampa Bay this season, he is 9-4 with a 3.24 ERA (35 ER/97.1 IP).

WIN: Atlanta scored four fourth-inning runs and held on to beat Tampa Bay, 6-1, last night…Atlanta is 27-4 (.871) over its last 31 games.

• RH Spencer Strider started for Atlanta and fanned 11 over 6.1 scoreless innings, and leads the majors with 166 strikeouts on the season…Strider earned the win in the start, his majors lead-tying 11th of the season.
• Strider completed 6.1 innings in the start, and the Braves moved to 27-9 (.750) when their starter goes at least 6.0 innings this season.
• Atlanta moved to 20-14 (.588) in interleague play with the win, and is 9-1 in its last 10 games versus the American League…The Braves’ 20 wins in interleague play are tied with Houston and Miami for the most in baseball.
• The Braves’ 30-13 (.698) record on the road is easily the best in basebll, and their 30 wins also stand as most…Atlanta’s 3.31 ERA in road games is lowest in baseball.

SERIES WINS: The Braves have won each of the first two games of this series, and will go for the sweep this afternoon…With the wins, Atlanta has clinched its 11th
consecutive series victory dating to a three-game set at Arizona, June 2-4.

• Atlanta last had a streak of 11-or-more series victories (no splits) in 2002, when the club won 13 straight series from May 24 to July 7.
• The Braves last went as long without a series loss (splits included) in 2010, when they went 13 straight series without a loss from May 10 to June 20.
• Research courtesy the Elias Sports Bureau.
• The Braves are 22-5-2 in series play on the season, including 13-2-0 away from Truist Park.

HOMER STREAK: For the second consecutive game catcher Sean Murphy connected on a home run last night, and the Braves have now homered in each of their last 25 games dating to June 10…The club has hit 63 total homers during these 25 games (2.5 per game).

• Atlanta’s run is the longest active homer streak in baseball, and stands as the longest such run this season…Tampa Bay homered in 22 straight to open the season, while Cincinnati has homered in each of its last 22 straight games.
• Atlanta has now tied the longest homer streak in modern-era franchise history, joining the 1998 club that also did so in 25 straight games…This is just the fifth 20-game run for the club since 1900…The 2006 club homered also homered in 23 straight, the 1956 Milwaukee Braves had a 22-game run, and the 1973 team did so in 20 consecutive games.
• The Braves have 168 total homers on the season, 19 more than any other team in baseball (Dodgers, 149)…Atlanta is on pace for 309 home runs this season, which would establish a new single-season MLB record.
• Atlanta’s 63 homers during its streak are 16 more than any other club has totaled since June 10, and just 12 teams have as many as half (32) of the Braves’ total in that span…Cleveland has just 60 homers on the entire season.

PITCHING: Five Atlanta pitchers combined to allow just one unearned run last night, and have surrendered just 10 hits and two runs (one earned) over this first two games of this series.

• With the efforts, the Braves now lead the majors with a 3.55 ERA (310 ER/785.0 IP) as a team, one one-hundredth of a point better than Minnesota (3.56).
• The closest National League club is San Diego, with a team ERA of 3.80.
• Atlanta starters lead the National League and rank third in baseball with a 3.66 ERA (191 ER/469.1 IP), while the Braves bullpen also ranks third in the majors and paces the NL with a 3.39 ERA (119 ER/315.2 IP).
• Opponents are batting just .239 against the Braves.

Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #55 Bryce Elder RHP
2023 Record: 7-1, 2.45 ERA • 2022 Record: 2-4, 3.17 ERA
vs. RHB: .236 (45-191), 3 HR • vs. LHB: .225 (42-187), 5 HR
Home: 3-1, 3.09 ERA (20 ER/58.1 IP) • Away: 4-0, 1.62 ERA (8 ER/44.1 IP)

Today’s Game

• Set to make his first career start against Tampa Bay and 18th on the season.
• Enters play with 22 consecutive outings of at least 5.0 innings pitched.
• Named to 2023 National League All-Star Team, his first selection.
• Joined Hall-of-Famer John Smoltz and Michael Soroka as the only starters in Atlanta-franchise history to make the All-Star team in their second year playing.
• Scattered seven hits over 6.2 innings of two-run ball with one strikeout, earning his seventh win of the season.
• Became the first Braves pitcher since Julio Teheran in 2016 to earn a win after pitching 6.2 innings with one strikeout or less.
• His 2.45 ERA on the season is the lowest in the majors among qualifiers.
• No Braves pitcher was won the ERA title since Greg Maddux (2.22) in 1998.
• Will be the first Braves pitcher to enter the All-Star break as the ERA leader since Hall-of-Famer Tom Glavine (2.27 ERA) in 2002.
• Elder’s 4.40 ERA with ROB is the second lowest in the NL among qualifiers.
• Opponents are hitting .187 against him with runners on base, the lowest rate in the National League and third lowest in the majors (among QS).
• His 46.2 LOB% is the eighth lowest in the National League (among QS).
• His groundball rate of 55.5% of balls put in play is the fifth highest in the majors among qualified starters.
• Has recorded an out on 61.5% of those grounders put in play.
• The average launch angle of balls put in play against Elder is 7.30; fourth lowest in the NL.
• Elder is pitching to a 1.54 ERA while holding opponents to a .213/.272/.317 line the first two times through the lineup.
• Conversely, owns a 5.40 ERA and hitters have a line of .265/.342/.408 the third time through the order.
• Is 8-2 with a 2.26 ERA over his last 22 games started after being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett for the second time, dating to August 14, 2022.
• His 2.26 ERA is the second lowest among pitchers with at least 20 starts during that span.
• In that stretch, Elder is averaging 6.0 innings pitched per outing, tied for the third highest rate in the National League (min. 20 starts).
• He has six starts in his career of at least 6.0 innings without allowing a run, the most such games in Braves franchise history (since 1900) in a player’s first 25 starts…Irv Young (1905), Clif Curtis (1909-’10) and Ian Anderson (’20-21) each had five such starts.

2023 Recap

• Joined Hall-of-Famer John Smoltz, Shelby Miller and Julio Teheran as the only Atlanta-era pitchers, age 24 or younger to post a 2.40 ERA or lower through their first 15 starts to a season.
• Elder has 20 games of at least 5.1 innings pitched in 25 career starts; the most in Atlanta franchise history through as many games started.
• Elder’s 2.30 ERA through 20 career starts is the lowest in Atlanta franchise history to begin a career.
• His 117.1 innings pitched through his first 20 games started were the most by an Atlanta player to begin their career since Julio Teheran in 2011-13.
• His 30 earned runs allowed are also the fewest during that span.
• Elder has held opponents to one run or less in nine games this season while pitching at least 5.0 frames in every outing.
• His 13 appearances of at least 5.0 innings pitched while holding opponents to one run or less are the most through a player’s first 25 outings in Atlanta franchise history.

TAMPA BAY RAYS NOTES:

SHAKE IT OFF — Tampa Bay lost its season-high seventh straight game in last night’s 6-1 defeat to Atlanta…RHP Taj Bradley took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts across 5.0 innings…1B Yandy Díaz (2-for4) recorded his second consecutive multi-hit effort and his 28th this season, tying Wander Franco for the team lead…RF Luke Raley (1-for-4, 2B) tallied Tampa Bay’s lone extra-base hit of the game.

The Rays are one of six clubs since the first All-Star game in 1933 to have a 13+ game winning streak and a 7+ game losing streak before the Midsummer Classic… it was done last by two teams in 1991 – the Minnesota Twins won 15 straight from 6/1-16 and lost seven in a row from 4/13-20, and the Texas Rangers won 14 straight from 5/12-27 and lost eight straight from 6/1-10. (Elias)

It marks the first time Tampa Bay has lost five straight home games since 5/6-23, 2018 (also 5G).

The Rays have been held to one run in each of their last three games…it is the first time Tampa Bay has been held to one run or fewer in three straight games since
4/13-15, 2016 (also 3G).

BLANK SPACE — Tampa Bay is on its first losing streak of 7+ games since a seven-game skid from 6/15-22, 2021…the Rays have lost 10 of 15, 11 of 17, and 13 of their last 19 games…their 6-13 (.316) record since 6/17 is tied with Oakland for fourth worst in the majors in the span, ahead of only Los Angeles-AL (5-14, .263), Colorado (5-13, .278) and Pittsburgh (6-15, .286).

After winning 30 of its first 36 games at Tropicana Field to open the season, Tampa Bay has gone just 4-9 over its last 13 home games dating back to 6/10.

LUUUUUKE — Luke Raley has reached base safely in 36 of his last 40 starts since 5/6, slashing .306/.392/.597 (41-for-134) with 11 doubles, two triples, 8 HR and 20 RBI…his .979 OPS overall in that span ranks fourth in the AL (min. 150PA) behind LAA Shohei Ohtani (1.141), TEX Corey Seager (1.039) and CWS Luis Robert Jr. (.984)…he has recorded an extra-base hit in six of his last nine games, going .310/.412/.724 (9-for-29) in that span with three doubles, three homers and 8 RBI.

BATS AT THE TROP — In their last seven home games since 6/24, Rays batters are slashing .187/.249/.293 (42-for-225) with six doubles, 6 HR and 15 runs scored (13RBI)…in their previous seven games at Tropicana Field from 6/9-23, Rays batters slashed .304/.376/.463 (73-for-240) with 14 doubles, 8 HR and 48 runs scored (47RBI).

Tampa Bay has homered in 41 of its 49 home games this season…prior to last night, the Rays had homered in nine straight games at Tropicana Field.

CLOSING THE DOOR — Kevin Kelly has thrown 19.1 scoreless innings across 20 appearances since 5/14, marking the second-longest scoreless inning streak in the majors among relievers behind NYY Tommy Kahnle (19.2IP)

Colin Poche is 3-1 with a 1.88 ERA (14.1IP, 3ER) and a .130 (6-for-46) opponent average in 15 appearances since 5/31.

Jake Diekman has pitched to a 0.59 ERA (15.1IP, 1ER) with an .098 (5-for-51) opponent average in 18 appearances since 5/26.

In 16 appearances since 5/26, Jason Adam owns a 2.20 ERA (16.1IP, 4ER) with five saves while holding opponents to a .132 (7-for-53) average.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS — Tampa Bay is 34-15 (.694) at Tropicana Field this year, the best home winning pct. in MLB ahead of Atlanta (30-15, .667) and Los Angeles-NL (29-16, .644).

With a win today, the Rays would have the second-best winning pct. through their first 50 home games in club history at 35-15 (.700)…the 2008 Rays went 36-14 (.720) through their first 50 games at Tropicana Field.

Since becoming the Rays in 2008, Tampa Bay is 714-501 (.588) at Tropicana Field, the third-best home winning pct. in the majors during that span, trailing only Los
Angeles-NL (756-454, .625) and New York-AL (756-459, .622).

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING — The Rays concluded June with the most home runs (128) and stolen bases (102) in the AL…they became the 10th team all-time to lead the AL in both categories at the end of June, including the first since the 2015 Houston Astros (Elias).

Tampa Bay is now looking to become just the sixth team in AL history to lead the league in homers and steals at the All-Star break since the Midsummer Classic’s inception in 1933…they would join the 2015 Astros, 1984 Oakland Athletics, 1962 Detroit Tigers and both the 1955 and 1956 New York Yankees.

HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR— 1B Yandy Díaz and OF Randy Arozarena will both start for the AL in their first career All-Star appearances, while LHP Shane McClanahan received his second straight All-Star nod and SS Wander Franco earned his first career honors…this marks the third time in club history the Rays have had 4+ All- Stars, joining the 2009 (5) and 2010 (4) seasons.

On 7/1, it was announced that Arozarena was selected to participate in the 2023 T-Mobile Home Run Derby…he will become the third player in Rays history to participate in the event, joining Evan Longoria (2008) and Carlos Peña (2009).

The Derby will take place at 8 p.m. ET on Monday, 7/10 at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park… Arozarena is scheduled to take on TEX Adolis García in the first round…he is looking to become the first player in Rays history to advance in the Home Run Derby, as both Longoria and Peña were eliminated in the first round.

CALL TO THE HALL — Today, Wade Boggs joins Don Zimmer as the second member of the inaugural class of the Rays Hall of Fame…Boggs joined Tampa Bay in 1998 following 16 years between Boston (1982-1992) and New York-AL (1994-1997)…he recorded the first home run and RBI in franchise history with his two-run shot on Opening Day in
1998…he recorded his 3,000th hit, a home run, on 8/7/99, becoming the first Tampa Bay player to join the 3,000 hit club…at the time, no player had ever hit a home run to reach the 3,000 mark…a 12x All-Star, 2x Gold Glove winner and 8x Silver Slugger, Boggs was enshrined in Cooperstown, along with Ryne Sandberg, in 2005.

BRING ON THE BRAVOS — The Rays and Braves conclude a three-game set today at Tropicana Field…the two clubs last met in 2021, with Tampa Bay taking two of three from Atlanta at Truist Park from 7/16-18.

The Rays last hosted the Braves at Tropicana Field from 7/27-28, 2020 and swept a two-game series…on 7/27/20, Tampa Bay won 14-5, recording its most runs against Atlanta in franchise history across 39 all-time matchups.

Atlanta won each of the first seven contests between the two clubs from 6/30/98- 7/16/00.

TODAY’S STARTER: RHP ZACH EFLIN (9-4, 3.24)
TODAY’S START — The right-hander gets the starting nod in Tampa Bay’s final game before the All-Star break, his 17th start of the season and 10th at Tropicana Field…has tossed 7.0+ innings in each of his last two starts, recording a 2.57 ERA (14.0IP, 4ER) and a 0.79 WHIP in those games…has received zero runs of support in four of his last five starts, including each of his last two outings…has produced a 2.70 ERA (40.0IP, 12ER) in six Interleague starts this season.

LAST TIME OUT — Facing his former club for the first time, Eflin worked 7.0 frames of two-run ball on Independence Day vs. Philadelphia, but took his first home loss of the season (7.0IP, 4H, 2ER, 9SO)…retired 19 of the first 21 batters he faced, with the lone damage being back-to-back doubles in the second frame that led to a 1-0 Phillies lead…worked out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the seventh to conclude his outing.

Eflin spent the first seven years of his career with the Phillies from 2016-22, going 36-45 with a 4.33 ERA over 127 games (115GS)…won an NL pennant with the Phillies last season, turning in a 3.38 ERA (10.2IP, 4ER) over 10 relief appearances in the Postseason.

PUT ON A BRAVE FACE — In 16 career games (13GS) against Atlanta, Eflin is 6-3 with a 3.11 ERA (81.0IP, 28ER), including a 2.06 ERA (52.1IP, 12ER) in his last 11 outings (8GS)…made three relief appearances against the Braves from 9/22-24, 2022, allowing one hit over 3.2 scoreless frames.

Eflin ranks among MLB leaders in Interleague play (min. 40.0IP) in opp. AVG (1st, .182), opp. OBP (1st, .203), opp. OPS (1st, .489), WHIP (1st, 0.73), SO/BB (1st, 14.67), opp. SLG (2nd, .287) and ERA (3rd, 2.70)…has received zero runs of support in each of his last three Interleague starts since 6/17…has tossed 6.0+ innings and allowed three or fewer runs in all six of his starts opposite NL clubs.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME — Before taking the loss in his most recent home start on 7/4 vs. Philadelphia, Eflin became the first pitcher to earn a win in each of his first eight home starts of a season since STL Adam Wainwright in 2010 (10GS)…became the eighth pitcher since 1901 to earn a win in each of his first eight home starts with a club, including the first since CHC Rick Sutcliffe (8GS) from 6/24-9/14, 1984.

Eflin’s 2.22 ERA at Tropicana Field is the second lowest through a pitcher’s first nine home starts with the Rays in club history, behind Matt Garza (2.38 – 4/8-7/7, 2008).

Min. 50.0 IP, Eflin ranks among AL leaders at home in wins (1st, 8), walk rate (1st, 2.8%), SO/BB (2nd, 9.83), ERA (2nd), opp. OPS (2nd, .495) and WHIP (4th, 0.85).

FIRST HALF CHECK-IN — Eflin’s 100 strikeouts are his most before the All-Star break in any season of his career, ahead of his 2021 campaign (94SO)… he has logged 97.1 IP thus far — with 4.0 IP today, it would mark the most innings he has ever thrown before the All-Star break, surpassing his 2021 season (102.0IP)…with a victory today, he would become the 10th Rays pitcher to record 10+ wins (12th instance) before the break.

LOCKED IN — Eflin has been at his best in the early-goings, recording a 2.25 ERA (32.0IP, 8ER) and holding opponents to a .171/.227/.288 (19-for- 111) clip in the first two innings compared to a 3.72 ERA (65.1IP, 27ER) and .249/.274/.391 (63-for-253) line in all other frames.

QUALITY CONTROL — Eflin’s 6.67 SO/BB ratio is fourth best in the majors (min. 90.0IP), trailing SEA George Kirby (8.90), MIN Joe Ryan (7.13) and MIA Braxton Garrett (6.73)…he joins Garrett (101SO, 15BB) as the only pitchers in the majors with 100+ strikeouts and 15 or fewer walks.

Eflin has tossed 7.0+ innings and issued zero walks in consecutive starts for the first time since a career-long three-start streak from 4/23-5/4, 2017…the last Rays pitcher to turn the trick in two straight starts was Charlie Morton from 5/30-6/5, 2019…only two Rays pitchers have accomplished the feat in three straight starts: David Price (2x, last: 7/24-8/3, 2013) and Chris Archer (5/27-6/7, 2015).

He has walked two or fewer batters in each of his last 19 starts since 6/14/22, the second-longest streak of his career (longest: 33GS, 8/29/20-6/3/22)…overall, the righty has issued two or fewer walks in 52 of his last 53 starts dating back to 8/29/2020.

Since the beginning of 2021, his 4.0 pct. walk rate is the lowest in the majors (min. 1,000BF), outpacing KC Zack Greinke (4.5%).

THIS AND THAT — Lefties are batting just .189 against him, the lowest mark in the AL (min. 175BF)…has limited opponents to a .174 (25-for-144) average when he’s ahead in the count, compared to .319 (23-for-72) when he falls behind…has held the first three spots in the opposing order to a .196 (26-for-133) average…six of his 10 HR allowed have come in the third frame — among all MLB hurlers, only BAL Dean Kremer (7HR) has allowed more third-inning homers.