Venue: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, TN
First Pitch: 7:15 PM ET
Broadcast: FOX, MLB.TV
Historic Venue Spotlight
This game marks the first-ever MLB regular-season game played in Tennessee, hosted at the iconic Bristol Motor Speedway. With over 85,000 fans expected, it will break the all-time regular-season attendance record. The event also features a pregame concert by Tim McGraw and Pitbull, and ceremonial first pitches by legends Chipper Jones and Johnny Bench.
Game Storylines
- Series Decider: The Braves won Game 1 (12–11), Reds took Game 2 (4–3). This game decides the series.
- Playoff Push: Cincinnati (58–53) is in the thick of the NL Wild Card race, while Atlanta (46–63) is battling injuries and inconsistency.
- Pitching Duel: Spencer Strider (ATL) vs Chase Burns (CIN) – a matchup of elite stuff vs raw talent.
Pitching Matchup Breakdown
| Pitcher | Team | Record | ERA | WHIP | K/BB | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spencer Strider | Braves | 5–8 | 3.71 | 1.22 | 92/28 | 2.91 ERA over last 9 starts |
| Chase Burns | Reds | 0–3 | 6.26 | 1.45 | 45/14 | No. 2 prospect in MLB; 10 K in last outing |
Player Spotlight
Cincinnati Reds
- Elly De La Cruz: .283 AVG, 19 HR, 72 RBI, 29 SB – top 15 in MLB RBI
- Spencer Steer: .240 AVG, 12 HR – versatile contributor
- Matt McLain: .222 AVG, 11 HR – power potential
Atlanta Braves
- Matt Olson: .262 AVG, 18 HR, 68 RBI – team leader in power
- Ozzie Albies: .228 AVG, 9 HR – batting .421 over last 5 games
- Austin Riley: .260 AVG, 16 HR – steady middle-of-order bat
Team Trends & Stats
| Team | Last 10 Games | Batting Avg | ERA | Run Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reds | 6–4 | .249 | 3.85 | +8 |
| Braves | 3–7 | .241 | 5.12 | –14 |
- Reds Home Record: 33–25
- Braves Road Record: 19–35
- Season Series: Tied 1–1 entering Game 3
Game Odds
Atlanta Braves – 123
Cincinnati Reds 8
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, August 1, 2025
