Reds vs. Braves: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

The Cincinnati Reds begin a pivotal road trip in Atlanta.

After completing a 5-1 homestand, the Cincinnati Reds (61-52) stumbled last night, dropping a makeup date with the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Unfortunately, the road doesn’t get any easier this week as they visit the two hottest teams in the National League East in the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.

Cincinnati is slowly but surely getting healthy. Over the weekend, both third baseman Mike Moustakas and reliever Lucas Sims returned from the IL after extensive stays on the shelf. All hands will need to be on deck versus a streaking Braves ballclub.

Despite losing one of the most exciting players in the game in Ronald Acuna Jr. to a season-ending knee injury, the Atlanta Braves (57-55) have gone 7-3 over their last 10 contests and have surged into second place in the NL East as the New York Mets sink like a stone.

The Braves front office has been busy adding reinforcements in the outfield. Before the July 30th trade deadline, the club acquired former Chicago Cub slugger Joc Pederson and former Redleg Adam Duvall from the Miami Marlins.

This is Duvall’s second tour of duty in Atlanta. The Kentucky native hit 22 homers for the Marlins and has already gone deep twice in nine games with the Braves. Entering play today, his 24 round-trippers are good enough for third in the senior circuit.

Over the last several years, Truist Park has been a very welcoming ballpark for the Reds. Cincinnati has not lost a series in Atlanta since the 2014 season. The Redlegs and Braves split a four-game set in June at Great American Ball Park, and Cincinnati is looking to capture the season series over Atlanta for the fifth time in the last six years.

Defending MVP leads a powerful lineup.

If there’s one thing the Braves’ offense does well, it’s hitting the long ball. Atlanta’s current active roster features five players who have gone deep at least 18 times this season, led by the 24 each from Freddie Freeman and the aforementioned Adam Duvall.

The Braves enter play today with 157 round-trippers placing them second among all National League clubs. In addition to Freeman and Duvall, third baseman Austin Riley has 23 homers, while the keystone combination of Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies have contributed 20 and 18 dingers, respectively.

Overall the Braves are a slightly above average offensive unit producing a .242/.322/.427 slash line barely eclipsing the .241/.318/.402 league average. Atlanta’s 4.81 runs per contest is good enough for fourth among all NL clubs.

Being average is not limited to the Braves offense as the Atlanta pitching staff is a fairly pedestrian unit as a whole as well. Their 4.12 ERA ranks seventh in the league, as does their 981 strikeouts.

However, Braves hurlers are tied for the NL lead with 12 team shutouts on the season even though manager Brian Snitker has yet to allow an Atlanta starter toss a complete game shutout during the 2021 campaign. In addition, Max Fried and Charlie Morton are the only Braves to throw more than 100 pitches in a game more than once this season.

The outfield wasn’t the only position the Braves beefed up at the trade deadline. They acquired right-hander Richard Rodriguez from the Pittsburgh Pirates to compliment southpaw closer Will Smith at the backend of the Atlanta bullpen. The 31-year-old Rodriguez has yet to allow a run in five appearances since heading south.

Right-hander has delivered immediate results in the Reds’ bullpen.

On paper, it may have seemed a modest move at the time. Still, the July 28th acquisition of Mychal Givens from the Colorado Rockies is one of those moves that could be the difference between the Reds playing in October or watching playoff baseball from their couches.

Since joining the Reds, the right-hander has immediately paid dividends for the Redlegs. Appearing in five games, he’s yet to yield a run while allowing just two hits and fanning five. In addition, Givens has already collected two saves.

A six-year veteran, the former second-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles has put together a stellar resumé out of the bullpen. Making 343 career appearances, Givens has whiffed 451 hitters in just 381 innings. He’s also compiled an excellent 1.15 WHIP in seven big league seasons.

An impending free agent, the 31-year-old Florida native, is sure to be a much-in-demand commodity this offseason. Throughout his career, he’s dominated right-handed hitters holding them to a paltry .194/.272/.327 slash line. Let’s hope he enjoys his time in the Queen City and looks to make a more permanent stay in Cincinnati following the 2021 season.

Prediction

This is a huge series for both clubs as they look to crawl their way into a crowded National League playoff picture. Both teams reside in second place in their respective divisions; however, the Reds are 3.5 games clear of Atlanta as they try to catch San Diego for the second Wild Card berth.

It won’t be easy, but look for the Redlegs to take two of three from the Braves before heading to play the new NL East leaders and the hottest team in baseball in a weekend showdown with the Philadelphia Phillies.