ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: The Braves and Brewers today conclude a three-game weekend series in what is the third of six scheduled meetings between the clubs this season…Atlanta and Milwaukee will meet again in just five days, when the Braves host the Brewers for three games at Truist Park, July 28-30.
- Milwaukee rallied to beat Atlanta, 4-3, last night to even the series and set up today’s rubber match.
- 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 10-10 against each other since 2019, with Atlanta outscoring Milwaukee, 94-86 (+8).
- 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 13-14 (.482) versus Milwaukee and has outscored the Brewers, 128-121 (+7).
- 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 34-34 (.500) in this building.
- RH Bryce Elder has never faced Milwaukee, nor has he pitched against a member of the Brewers’ active roster…The 6-foot-2, 220-pound righthander has allowed 14 runs, 12 earned, in just 6.0 innings over his last two starts, yet is 7-2 with a 3.31 ERA (40 ER/108.2 IP) in 19 turns on the season for the Braves.
- RH Julio Teheran pitched nine seasons for Atlanta, 2011-2019, and today makes his first appearance against his former club…A two-time All-Star for the Braves, Teheran compiled a 77-73 record with a 3.67 ERA (554 ER/1360.0 IP) for the club, and ranks ninth on the Atlanta-era wins list for the franchise…In nine starts for Milwaukee this season, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound native of Colombia is 2-4 with a 4.01 ERA (23 ER/51.2 IP).
LOSS: Atlanta held a three-run lead after last night’s third inning, but saw Milwaukee rally to beat the Braves, 4-3, and even the series…The Braves lost to a team from the N.L. Central for just the second time this season.
- The Braves scored three runs in the top of the third inning, and fell to 48-7 (.873) when holding a three-run lead this season…Atlanta’s seven such losses are behind just Colorado (9) for most in the National League.
- Last night marked the 64th time this season that Atlanta has scored the game’s opening run, tied with Tampa Bay for most in the majors, and the 15th time the club has gone on to lose…The Braves’ 49-15 (.766) record when scoring first is best in the N.L. and behind just Baltimore (30-8, .789) for best in the majors.
- RH Allan Winans made his major league debut for Atlanta last night, and pitched 4.1 two-run innings in a no-decision.
SERIES LOSS?: Atlanta needs a win this afternoon to avoid its third consecutive series defeat following the All-Star break…The Braves lost two-of-three to both the White Sox and Diamondbacks last week.
- Prior to their loss to Chicago, the Braves had won 11 consecutive series dating to June 2…Atlanta had not lost consecutive series all season prior to its current stretch.
- The Braves have not gone at least three series without a win since opening last year 0-3-2 in their first five series of the year.
- Atlanta is 7-1 in rubber games this season.
SPEEDY DEBUT: OF Forrest Wall made his major league debut for Atlanta last night, pinch running in the ninth inning and stealing second and third base…He is the only player in franchise history to come off the bench for his debut and steal at least two bases.
- Regardless of franchise, Wall is one of just three players in modern-era history to come off the bench and steal two bases and the first since Ced Landrum
did so for the Cubs in 1991…Dutch Schirick was the first to do so, stealing two as a substitute for the St. Louis Browns in 1914. - Just one other player in franchise history has even started and stolen two bases in their debut…George Jackson went 3-for-4 with two runs and two steals
in his debut for the 1911 Boston Rustlers. - Wall stole 45 bases for Triple-A Gwinnett prior to joining Atlanta, second most in the International League and tops among all Atlanta farmhands.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher -#55 Bryce Elder RHP
2023 Record: 7-2, 3.31 ERA • 2022 Record: 2-4, 3.17 ERA
vs. RHB: .256 (53-207), 6 HR • vs. LHB: .233 (47-202), 5 HR
Home: 3-1, 3.69 ERA (25 ER/61.0 IP) • Away: 4-1, 2.83 ERA (15 ER/47.2 IP)
Today’s Game
- Set to make his first career start against Milwaukee and 20th on the season.
- Allowed seven hits, seven runs, five earned, and a walk with four strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched against Arizona in his last start.
- The 2.2 innings pitched were the fewest in a start of his career.
- His 2.97 ERA on the season is the eighth lowest in the NL among qualifiers.
- No Braves pitcher was won the ERA title since Greg Maddux (2.22) in 1998.
- Elder’s 5.85 ERA with ROB is the fourth lowest in the NL among qualifiers.
- Opponents are hitting .207 against him with runners on base, the third lowest rate in the National League and third lowest in the majors (among QS).
- Owns a 30.2 left on base percentage.
- His groundball rate of 55.0% of balls put in play is the fourth highest in the majors among qualified starters.
- Has recorded an out on 61.7% of those grounders put in play.
- The average launch angle of balls put in play against Elder is 5.80; fourth lowest in the NL.
- Elder is pitching to a 2.45 ERA while holding opponents to a .230/.292/.355 line the first two times through the lineup.
- Conversely, owns a 6.08 ERA and hitters have a line of .273/.348/.444 the third time through the order.
- Is 8-3 with a 2.93 ERA over his last 24 games started after being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett for the second time, dating to August 14, 2022.
- His 2.93 ERA is the fourth lowest among pitchers with as many starts during that span.
- 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
- Named to the 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.
- 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 allwed 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.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS NOTES:
A Series Situation
The Brewers are looking for a series victory today…..the team is 6-0-1 over its 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.
Greetings and Sal-utations!
Sal Frelick made his Major League debut last night and went 3-for-3 with a run and 2 RBI, including the game-tying and game-winning RBI…..he tied the franchise record for hits in a big league debut, joining Sixto Lezcano (1974) and Steve Bowling (1976).
Welcome to The Show
Sal Frelick became the eighth player to make his Major League debut with the Brewers this season:
Player MLB Debut
INF Brice Turang …………… 3/30 at CHC
RHP Gus Varland ………….. 3/30 at CHC
OF Joey Wiemer ………………. 4/1 at CHC
OF Blake Perkins …………….4/19 at SEA
INF Andruw Monasterio … 5/28 vs. SF
LHP Clayton Andrews …………7/1 at PIT
RHP Abner Uribe……………….7/8 vs. CIN
OF Sal Frelick ………………… 7/22 vs. ATL
Fine ‘Penmanship
Brewers relievers have tossed 27.2 consecutive scoreless innings over the last 9 games with opponents batting just .102 (9-for-88, 6bb, 43k).
A Piece of the Payamps
Joel Payamps has allowed just one baserunner over his last 10 outings (Mancini single on 7/6 vs. CHC)…..he has faced 31 batters in this stretch (1-for-31, 0bb, 14k)…..Payamps has retired 18 consecutive batters.
Rebel Yeli
In his last 38 games, Christian Yelich has hit .338 (51-for-151) with 31 runs, 7 HR and 29 RBI while he has posted a .412 OBP/.609 SLG/1.021 OPS.
The Brice Is Right
Rookie infielder Brice Turang has yet to commit an error in 269 total chances (242 at 2B/27 at SS).
TODAY’S GAME: Is game 3 (1-1) of a 6-game homestand against Atlanta (1-1) and Cincinnati (3g)…..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 (115 days): The Brewers have spent the following number of days alone or tied at each position in the NL Central standings: FIRST: 66, SECOND: 47, THIRD: 2, FOURTH: 0, FIFTH: 0…..the team is currently in first place, leading the second-place Reds by 1.5 games.
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: The Brewers are 17-13-1 in series play.
Game 1: 15-17, Game 2: 19-13, 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 27-22 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. Cleveland
