Braves announce pitching plans ahead of division leaders battle
Braves reveal plans ahead of crucial series.
The Atlanta Braves have unveiled their pitching roster for an upcoming three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, as the National League East race intensifies with MLB’s regular season nearing its conclusion. The three-game set commences on Tuesday. AJ Smith-Shawver, Raynaldo López, and Martín Pérez will be on the mound for Atlanta.
Smith-Shawver, a 23-year-old right-hander, will open the series. Over his limited time in the majors, he has posted a 7.13 ERA while allowing 14 runs over 20 hits in 17.2 innings. His most recent appearance was on September 1 against the Washington Nationals, where he surrendered five earned runs in 4 innings. López, recovering from a knee injury, will take the mound in the second game and could provide a veteran presence for the Braves as they vie for the division title.
Pérez, a 35-year-old left-hander, will be the third starter. Despite his recent struggles, he has put up a 3.25 ERA over 124.2 innings this season. Atlanta enters the series with an 85-58 record and a 4.5-game lead over Philadelphia in the NL East. The Braves will conclude their homestand with a four-game series against the Phillies before hosting Tampa Bay.
With the postseason on the horizon, Atlanta’s pitching staff will be under scrutiny as they aim to defend their division lead.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
