ATLANTA BRAVES NOTES:
Win Without a Homer
Atlanta tallied 15 hits in last night’s win, 6-5, over Pittsburgh, but none of those went for homers. The Braves won for just the third time this season when they did not hit a home run. Both of Atlanta’s two previous such wins came against Washington, on Opening Day at Nationals Park and again on June 9. The Braves are just 3-11 (.214) when they do not homer this season, however their 14 total games without a homer are by far the fewest in baseball. Last night’s 15 hits were the most for Atlanta without a homer this season, and its most without a home run since August 26 of last season at St. Louis (16).
TODAY’S GAME: The Braves and Pirates today conclude a four-game series in what is the fourth of seven scheduled meetings between the clubs this season…Pittsburgh is slated to visit Atlanta for a three-game set, September 8-10.
- The Braves got a run in the top of the eighth inning to beat the Pirates, 6-5, last night…Atlanta is 10-1 in its last 11 games with Pittsburgh dating to July 7, 2021.
- The Braves went a perfect 7-0 against the Pirates last season, just the second time in the franchise’s modern era they swept a season series of seven or
more games with an opponent…The 1993 Braves went 13-0 against Colorado. - Atlanta has won the season set with Pittsburgh every year since 2018 in which they have played, going a combined 23-7 (.767) in that span…In addition to last year’s perfect mark, the Braves went 4-3 in 2021, 5-2 in 2019 and 5-1 in 2018 versus the Pirates…The two did not meet in 2020.
- With wins the last two nights the Braves moved over .500 all-time at PNC Park since the stadium opened in 2021, pushing their record to 37-35 here… Atlanta won all three games here at PNC Park last season, its first series win here since a sweep in 2018.
- RH Bryce Elder has never faced the Pirates, and has pitched against just one member of Pittsburgh’s active roster…Josh Palacios is 0-for-1 with a hit-by-pitch against him…The 6-foot-2, 220-pound righthander is set to make his 23rd start of the season for Atlanta, and enters play with an 8-3 record and a 3.43 ERA (48 ER/126.0 IP).
- LH Bailey Falter has made two career starts against Atlanta, both last season while with the Phillies, and is 0-1 with a 7.56 ERA (7 ER/8.1 IP) versus the Braves…In nine games and eight starts this season between the Phillies and Pirates, the 6-foot-4, 175- pound native of Chino Hills, CA, is 0-7 with a 4.87 ERA (24 ER/44.1 IP).
WIN: Atlanta tallied a run in last night’s eighth inning to spur a win, 6-5, over Pittsburgh…The Braves collected at least 15 hits for the ninth time this season.
- The Braves moved to 8-1 (.889) in games with at least 15 hits, with their only loss coming in an 11-10 defeat at Cincinnati, June 23.
- Atlanta earned its 17th one-run win last night, and the Braves’ 17-13 (.567) record in one-run games is sixth best in baseball…Miami is a majors-best 26-10 (.722) in such games.
- The Braves went 6-for-13 and drew four walks with runners in scoring position last night, tied for their most such hits in a game this season…Atlanta was 6-for-14 on June 18 vs. Colorado, and 6-for-9 on July 29 vs. Milwaukee.
- Atlanta retained the best road record in baseball with the win, moving to 35-20 (.636).
VERSUS LEFTIES: LH Bailey Falter is slated to start for Pittsburgh today, the 21st left-handed pitcher to start against Atlanta this season…The Braves’ 20 starts versus lefties are tied for the fewest in baseball, while Atlanta’s .700 winning percentage (14-6) against left-handers is tied for highest in the majors.
- Dating further, since the start of the 2020 season, Atlanta’s 82-45 (.646) record against left-handed starters is highest in the majors.
- The Braves’ .881 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season is highest in baseball…Since the 2018 season, when Atlanta’s run of consecutive division titles began, the Braves’ .783 OPS versus lefties is best in the National League.
- Ozzie Albies is batting a majors-best .389 (35-for90) against left-handing pitching, and is a career .335/.362/.572 hitter with a .934 OPS versus lefties.
BULLPEN: Four Atlanta relievers – Collin McHugh, Pierce Johnson, A.J. Minter and Raisel Iglesias – combined to pitch 5.0 innings of one-run relief last night, and the Braves’ 1.45 ERA (5 ER/31.0 IP) out of the bullpen is fourth lowest in the majors in August.
- Atlanta has a 3.50 ERA (158 ER/406.1 IP) in relief on the season, best in the National League.
- No Braves starter has pitched past the sixth inning in Atlanta’s last five games, with the five starters combining to compile an 11.51 ERA (26 ER/20.1 IP)…In that same span, Atlanta’s bullpen has a 1.66 ERA, allowing just four runs in 21.2 innings…The Braves have gone 2-3 in the five games.
- Pierce Johnson has yet to allow an earned run in seven appearances since Atlanta acquired him via trade with the Rockies, allowing five hits and fanning nine over 6.1 innings.
- Last night’s appearance was the eighth straight scoreless outing for Iglesias dating to July 20, during which he has converted all six of his save attempts.
Tonight’s Starting Pitcher – #55 Bryce Elder RHP
2023 Record: 8-3, 3.43 ERA • 2022 Record: 2-4, 3.17 ERA
vs. RHB: .239 (57-239), 7 HR • vs. LHB: .248 (58-234), 7 HR
Home: 4-1, 3.44 ERA (26 ER/68.0 IP) • Away: 4-2, 3.41 ERA (22 ER/58.0 IP)
Today’s Game
- Set to make his first career start against Pittsburgh and 23rd on the season.
- In his last start, Elder suffered the loss, allowing seven hits, five earned runs, three walks and two home runs in 4.1 innings pitched…
- Elder has pitched to a 4.66 ERA since the beginning of June.
- Sported a 1.92 ERA in 11 starts prior to June 1.
- Elder’s 6.18 ERA with ROB is the seventh lowest in the NL among qualifiers.
- Opponents are hitting .211 against him with runners on base, the third lowest rate in the National League and sixth lowest in the majors (among QS).
- Owns a 24.7 left on base percentage.
- His groundball rate of 53.5% of balls put in play is the fifth highest in the majors among qualified starters.
- Has recorded an out on 60.2% of those grounders put in play.
- The average launch angle of balls put in play against Elder is 7.50; sixth lowest in the National League.
- Elder is pitching to a 2.78 ERA while holding opponents to a .235/.295/.373 line the first two times through the lineup.
- Conversely, owns a 5.97 ERA and hitters have a line of .265/.341/.419 the third time through the order and on.
- Is 9-4 with a 3.06 ERA over his last 27 games started after being recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett for the second time, dating to August 14, 2022.
- His 3.06 ERA is the seventh 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
PITTSBURGH PIRATES NOTES:
THE PIRATES:….have lost back-to-back games after winning three of their previous four contests…Have gone 10-9 in their last 19 games since losing each of their first five games following the All-Star break…Are in a stretch that has the team playing 16 straight days until their next scheduled off day on August 17…Have gone 2-0-2 in their last four series.
SHOW TIME: Last night Colin Selby became the 12th player to make his big league debut this season for the Pirates…The only team to have more players make their debuts this season are the Reds (13)…The Mariners and Athletics are tied for the third-most in MLB among players making their big league debuts (10 apiece).
55 BUCS: Last night Colin Selby became the 55th different player to appear in a game this season for the Pirates…That’s tied with the Brewers for the second-most players in MLB this season…The Angels have used a MLB-leading 58 players this season.
LET’S SET UP A MEETING FOR NEXT MONTH: The Pirates and Braves will meet again next month in a three-game series at Truist Park from September 8-10 in a one-city road trip for the Bucs…The Pirates were swept in four games at Truist Park last season from June 9-12.
ON DECK: Pittsburgh will continue its homestand tomorrow night as the team begins a three-game series against the Reds…It’s the first series between the two teams since Pittsburgh swept the Reds in four games at PNC Park from April 20-23…The Bucs opened the 2023 season at Great American Ball Park and won on Opening Day before losing the next two games of their first series.
ABOUT TODAY’S STARTER: Bailey Falter will make his second start as a member of the Pirates organization today after being acquired from the Phillies last Tuesday for infielder Rodolfo Castro…Falter allowed one run in 4.0 innings in his Pirates debut Saturday at Milwaukee in the team’s 3-2 walkoff loss…Today is also Falter’s second career appearance at PNC Park…Last year as a member of the Phillies, he allowed two runs in 5.2 innings but had a no-decision in Philadelphia’s 4-2 10-inning win.
AND THE WHIFF: Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has recorded 113 strikeouts in the last 12 games…Since July 28, that’s the fourth-most punchouts among all National League teams behind the Marlins (129), Padres (121) and Brewers (113).
DEBUT DAY: 2023 No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes will make his professional debut today with the Florida Complex League Pirates… Skenes was rated by MLB Pipeline as the No. 1 prospect in this year’s draft…Coming into the draft, Baseball America rated Skenes as having the “Best Fastball”, “Best Breaking Ball”, third in “Best Control” and fifth in “Best Changeup” in this year’s college class… Skenes went 13-2 with five shutouts, two complete games, a 1.69 ERA (122.2ip/23er), SEC-record 209 strikeouts, 20 walks and .165 batting average against in 19 starts for the NCAA-champion LSU Tigers this past season.
ANDREW ON THE BASES: Andrew McCutchen enters today with a 14-game on-base streak…That’s tied for the fourth-longest active on-base streak among all National League players (San Francisco’s Wilmer Flores has the longest active streak at 20 games)…Since the streak began on July 22, McCutchen’s 14 walks during his on-base streak are tied for the third-most among NL players behind Kyle Schwarber (20) and Ha-Seong Kim (16).
HAYES HEATING UP: Ke’Bryan Hayes has gone deep in back-to-back games for the second time this season (he also did it from June 2-3)…Hayes also has back-to-back games with at least three RBI for the first time since May 19-20.
BOMBS IN BUNCHES: The Pirates have gone deep 30 times since July 21…That’s tied for the fourth-most home runs in all of MLB in that time behind the Braves (33), Cubs (33) and Astros (31).
THE NEW GUY: Alfonso Rivas went 1-for-2 off the bench Wednesday night and is now 7-for-21 with a double, triple and two home runs in his first seven games with the Pirates (he has reached base safely in six of those seven games)…Rivas was one of three players acquired from the Padres on August 1 in exchange for Rich Hill and Ji Man Choi.
NO WHEN TO HOLDERMAN: Colin Holderman brings a scoreless streak of 9.2 innings into today (his second scoreless streak of 9.2 innings this season)…Since Holderman’s scoreless streak began on July 16, he has limited opposing hitters to just three hits in 32 at-bats (.094 batting average against) while recording 12 strikeouts.
STARTING PITCHER – 44 – LHP BAILEY FALTER
BAILEY FALTER: The 26-year-old lefthander will make second start with the Pirates today after being acquired from the Phillies on 8/1 in exchange for infielder Rodolfo Castro…Went 0-7 in eight appearances (seven starts) this season with the Phillies.
VS. ATLANTA: 0-1 with a 7.56 ERA (8.1ip/7er) in two starts (both in 2022)…Allowed one run in 4.2 innings in a no-decision on 9/18 at Atlanta…He also lost a 6-3 decision (3.2ip/10h/6r) to Kyle Wright at Citizens Bank Park on 9/24.
