MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves (62-33) at Milwaukee Brewers (54-43)

ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:

Good Series
Austin Riley drove a go-ahead, three-run home run out to left-center in yesterday’s eighth inning, and batted 6-for-13 with a 2.077 OPS in the series versus Arizona. He became just the second player in Atlanta franchise history (since 1966) to collect at least four homers and 11 RBI in a three-game span, joining 1B Mark Teixeira who did so in August of 2007. In baseball’s live-ball era (since 1920), just four additional Braves have ever had such a three-game stretch, and all four did so while the club was based here in Milwaukee. Joe Adcock (1954) and Bobby Thomson (1956) joined Hall-of-Famers Eddie Mathews (1953) and Hank Aaron (1959) in doing so.

TONIGHT’S GAME: The Braves and Brewers tonight open a three-game weekend series in what is the first of six scheduled meetings between the clubs this season…Atlanta and Milwaukee will meet again in just one week, when the Braves host the Brewers for three games at Truist Park, July 28-30. • Atlanta and Milwaukee split six games last season, as they have for each of the last three years in which they have played…The Braves and Brewers are 9-9 against each other since the start of 2019, with Atlanta outscoring Milwaukee, 85-78 (+7), in these games.

• The Braves have not won the season set with the Brewers since 2017, when they went 4-2 over six games…However, in the four seasons since, Atlanta is 12-13 (.480) versus Milwaukee and has actually outscored the Brewers, 119-113 (+6).
• Atlanta went 1-2 here at American Family Field last season, and has won just one series here since 2018…Since the facility opened prior to the 2001 season, the Braves are an even 33-33 (.500) in this building.
• RH Michael Soroka has never faced Milwaukee, but has pitched against two members of the Brewers active roster…Jesse Winker is 2-for-3, while Willy Adames is 1-for-2…The 6-foot-5, 225- pound right-hander is set to make his fifth start and sixth appearance for the Braves this season, and is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA (14 ER/23.1 IP) over his first five outings.
• RH Freddy Peralta has made four starts and five total appearances against Atlanta in his career, and is 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA (8 ER/23.1 IP) versus the Braves…The 6-foot-0, 196-pound native of the Dominican Republic enters tonight’s start with a 14.1-inning scoreless streak against Atlanta, and has not allowed a run to the Braves since 2018…In 18 turns for the Brewers this season, he is 6-7 with a 4.41 ERA (48 ER/98.0 IP).

WIN: Atlanta rallied with a four-run eighth inning to beat Arizona, 7-5, yesterday afternoon…The win stopped a season high-tying losing streak of four games for the Braves.

• The win marked the eighth time this season that Atlanta has trailed in the eighth inning and rallied to win, and the Braves’ 8-26 (.235) record in such games is the best in baseball.
• The Braves improved to 26-31 (.456) this season in games in which they have trailed at any point, good for the second-best record in such games across in the majors…The only club with a better record is Baltimore at 35-35 (.500).
• Atlanta also moved to 22-11 (.667) in day games, tied with the Yankees (24-12, .667) for the best record in baseball…The Braves were 24-27 (.471) in day games last season, sixth worst in the N.L.
• The win prevented the Braves’ third series sweep of the season…Atlanta has not been swept since losing all three games in Toronto, May 12-14.

STOPPED AT FOUR: Atlanta’s win yesterday stopped the club’s losing streak at a season high-tying four games and the club has not lost five straight games in over five years, last doing so with six straight losses from September 25-30, 2017…Atlanta’s run of consecutive division titles began the next season.

• The Braves are the only team in baseball without a five-game losing streak since the start of 2018.
• Yesterday marked Atlanta’s 803rd game since the conclusion of its last five-game skid…Per Elias, the Braves’ current amount of games between five-game
  losing streaks stand as the third most in baseball history.
• Only the Yankees have had more games between such skids…New York went 1,243 games between five-game streaks from 1930 to 1938, and compiled 877 games between such spells from 1946 to 1952.

THREE BALLS, NO STRIKES: Matt Olson drove a 3-0 pitch from Zac Gallen out to left-center yesterday afternoon, his second such home run on the season… He is one of just two players in baseball with multiple homers in a 3-0 count this season, along with St. Louis’ Nolan Arenado.

• Atlanta as a team has four homers in 3-0 counts this season, most in the majors, and is leading baseball in hits (7, tied) and RBI (14) in that count.
• The Braves have seen 163 pitches in a 3-0 count this year, have put 11 in play, and are batting .636/.932/1.909 with a 2.841 OPS in such situations…Atlanta leads the N.L. in slugging and OPS in the count.

FIRST-PLACE TEAMS: The first-place Braves visit the first-place Brewers tonight, with Milwaukee currently holding a 2.5-game lead in the N.L. Central… The game is the first between the two clubs this season.

• Against the other four division leaders – Baltimore, Minnesota, Texas and Los Angeles – Atlanta has compiled an 8-4 (.667) record and has won four straight such games.
• The Braves have dropped just one series against a current division leader this season, losing two-of-three to the Dodgers in May.
• Atlanta has gone 34-20 (.630) against teams with a winning record this season, by far the best record in baseball…No other team has won over 60% of such games, with Baltimore (37-28, .569) ranking second in the majors.

HOMERS: Atlanta collected four more home runs yesterday afternoon, extending its majors-best total to 182 on the season…The closest team, the Dodgers, have 155 homers for the year.

• Austin Riley and Matt Olson went back-to-back in yesterday’s eighth inning, the 10th set of consecutive homers for the Braves this season…That total is also most in the majors, two more than any other club.

Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #40 Michael Soroka RHP
2023 Record: 1-1, 5.40 ERA • 2023 MiLB Record: 1-2, 4.33 ERA
vs. RHB: .308 (12-for-39), 2 HR • vs. LHB: .255 (14-for-55), 4 HR
Home: 1-0, 5.00 ERA (5 ER/9.0) • Away: 0-1, 5.65 ERA (9/14.1)

Today’s Game

• Set to make his fifth start of the season for Atlanta and first career appearance against Milwaukee.
• Will be his first start since July 5 at Cleveland.
• Made his first career relief appearance on July 16 against Chicago (AL).
• Is 1-0 with a 3.29 ERA over his last three outings since being recalled.
• Recalled to Atlanta for the second time this season on June 30.
• Was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on June 4 after his start in Arizona.
• Went 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA in three starts after rejoining the Stripers.
• Named International League Pitcher of the Week for June 19-25.
• Threw a 7.0-inning complete game on June 22 vs. Jacksonville.
• Was first recalled to Atlanta for the this season on May 29.
• His first outing against Oakland marked his first MLB appearance in 1,029 days, dating to August 3, 2020.
• Missed a total of 486 games with a torn Achilles.
• Allowed seven hits, five runs, four walks and two home runs while fanning two hitters in 3.2 innings pitched in his last start against Arizona.
• In 11 starts with Triple-A Gwinnett, Soroka went 3-2 with a 3.31 ERA.
• Struck out 18 hitters over 19.0 innings pitched over his last three starts.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS NOTES:

Ride The High
The Brewers (54-43) enter the day a season-high 11 games over .500.

A Series Situation
The Brewers are 6-0-1 over their last 7 series, going 2-1 at CLE, 3-1 at NYM, 2-1 at PIT, 2-2 vs. CHC, 2-1 vs. CIN, 3-0 at CIN and 2-1 at PHI.

A Show About Nothing
The Brewers are coming off a 4-0 win in Philadelphia, their 11th shutout of the season, which ties the Blue Jays for most in the Major Leagues.

Fine ‘Penmanship
Brewers relievers have tossed 20.2 consecutive scoreless innings over the last 7 games with opponents batting just .119 (8-for-67, 3bb, 33k).

A Piece of the Payamps
Joel Payamps, who was acquired from Oakland as part of a three-team trade in December, ranks among NL relief leaders in holds (2nd, 20), WHIP (3rd, 0.90) and ERA (4th, 1.79)…..he has not allowed an earned run over his last 15 appearances (16ip)…..he has allowed a single base runner over his last 9 outings (Trey Mancini single on 7/6 vs. CHC), facing 28 batters in this stretch (1-for-28, 0bb, 13k)…..he has retired 15 consecutive batters.

Rebel Yeli
In his last 36 games, Christian Yelich has hit .343 (49-for-143) with 30 runs, 7 HR and 29 RBI while posting a .420 OBP/.622 SLG/1.042 OPS.

Born Again Christian
Christian Yelich ranks among the NL leaders in the following categories:

Category Rank
Runs (70) ……………………………………….T5th
SB (21) ……………………………………………T5th
AVG (.287) ……………………………………….9th
OBP (.376) ……………………………………….9th
Hits (101) ………………………………………. T9th
Doubles (22) ………………………………..T10th

Don’t Mess With Bill
William Contreras in his last 13 games is batting .400 (22-for-55) with 2 HR and 10 RBI while he has produced a .424 OBP/.600 SLG/1.024 OPS.

In Sterio (Where Available)
Andruw Monasterio has four straight 2-hit games, batting .533 (8-for-15) with 6 runs and 2 RBI in this stretch

TONIGHT’S GAME: Is game 1 of a 6-game homestand against Atlanta (3g) and Cincinnati (3g)…..the Brewers are coming off a 5-1 road trip to Cincinnati (3-0) and Philadelphia (2-1)…..following this homestand and an off day next Thursday, the team embarks on a 6-game road trip to Atlanta (3g) and Washington (3g).

IN THE TRAINER’S ROOM: INF/OF Brian Anderson (lower back), LHP Aaron Ashby (left labrum), LHP Wade Miley (left elbow), OF Garrett Mitchell (left shoulder), 1B Darin Ruf (right knee), LHP Bennett Sousa (left shoulder), 1B Rowdy Tellez (right forearm/left ring finger), LHP Justin Wilson (left elbow) and RHP Brandon Woodruff (right shoulder) are on the injured list…..Ashby, Mitchell, Ruf, Wilson and Woodruff are on the 60-day IL.

IN THE STANDINGS (113 days): The Brewers have spent the following number of days alone or tied at each position in the NL Central standings: FIRST: 64, SECOND: 47,
THIRD: 2, FOURTH: 0, FIFTH: 0…..the team is currently in first place, leading the second-place Reds by 2.5 games.

SERIES-LY SPEAKING: The Brewers are 17-13-1 in series play.
Game 1: 15-16, Game 2: 18-13, Game 3: 17-13, Game 4: 4-1
Sweep Wins (5): vs. NYM (3g, 4/3-4/5), at SEA (3g, 4/17-4/19), vs. KC (3g, 5/12-5/14), vs. PIT (3g, 6/16-6/18), at CIN (3g, 7/14-7/16)
Sweep Losses (3): at COL (3g, 5/2-5/4), vs. OAK (3g, 6/9-6/11), at MIN (2g, 6/13-6/14)

AT HOME: The Brewers are 26-21 at home, going 8-6-1 in series play…..the team went 46-35 at home last season, going 15-8-4 in series play.

ON THE ROAD: The Brewers are 28-22 on the road, going 9-7-0 in series play…..are 12-4 in the last 16 road games, including 7-1 in the last 8 contests…..from 7/1-7/16 had a season-high 5-game road winning streak…..the team went 40-41 on the road last season, going 9-12-5 in series play

LET’S GO TO THE VIDEO TAPE: The Brewers have made 20 replay challenges this season, going 7-13…..their last challenge (lost) came on 7/8 vs. Cincinnati as an out call at second base (William Contreras) to end the game stood.

TONIGHT’S STARTER: #51 – RHP FREDDY PERALTA (18gs, 6-7, 4.41)
PERALTA AT A GLANCE: Freddy Peralta, 27, will make his 19th start of the season…..Peralta last started last Saturday at Cincinnati in a 3-0 win (6ip, 1h, 2bb, 6k, 93 pitches)….. it was his first victory since 5/21 at Tampa Bay…..the team is 9-9 in his starts…..he has 9 quality starts…..opponents are batting .224 (83-for-370, 16hr)…..Peralta was acquired from Seattle, along with RHP Carlos Herrera and RHP Daniel Missaki, in exchange for 1B Adam Lind on 12/9/15…..on 2/28/20, he signed a 5-year contract through the 2024 season with club options for 2025 and 2026.

LAST SEASON: Peralta went 4-4 with a 3.58 ERA in 18 games/17 starts…..he held opponents to a .190 batting average with 86 strikeouts in 78.0 innings…..the team went 8-9 in his starts…..he produced 4 quality starts…..he was on the injured list twice last season: 5/23-8/2 (right posterior shoulder strain) and 9/9-9/24 (right shoulder inflammation).

CAREER: Is 36-24 with a 3.93 ERA in 134 games/85 starts (513ip, 224er)…..is in his sixth Major League season, all with the Brewers (2018-23)…..is 28-22 with a 3.94 ERA as a starter (429ip, 188er) and 8-2 with a 3.86 ERA in relief (84ip, 36er)…..was an All-Star in 2021.
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CAREER AT AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD: Is 22-13 with a 3.44 ERA in 72 games/44 starts (277ip, 106er)…..is 4-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 10 starts this season (53.1ip, 23er).

CAREER ON THE ROAD: Is 14-11 with a 4.50 ERA in 62 games/41 starts (236ip, 118er)…..is 2-4 with a 5.04 ERA in 8 starts this season (44.2ip, 25er).

CAREER vs. BRAVES: Is 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA in 5 games/4 starts (23.1ip, 8er), including a 1-0 win in his only start last season on 5/16 in Milwaukee (7ip, 2h, 1bb, 10k).