Tyler Mahle, Atlanta’s most impactful trade deadline acquisition this season, will take the mound on Thursday when the Braves host the Cincinnati Reds in their final home game of the season.
The Braves (93-65) won Wednesday’s game 3-2 in 10 innings to square the three-game series at one victory apiece. Cincinnati (73-85) has lost three of its last four games and is 29-33 since the All-Star break.
Mahle (7-10, 3.81 ERA) will be opposed by Cincinnati’s Brady Singer (6-15, 5.67) on Thursday in a battle of right-handers.
Mahle, obtained from San Francisco at the deadline, has pitched his way into position as the No. 2 man in the Atlanta rotation behind Chris Sale. He was 3-9 with a 5.13 ERA in 18 starts with San Francisco, but since joining Atlanta is 4-1 with a 1.28 ERA in eight starts.
In his last start on Friday at Houston, Mahle pitched six innings and allowed only one run on three hits. He has not given up more than two runs in any start since joining the Braves and has been caught each time by veteran Sean Murphy.
“He can throw strikes with all of his pitches,” Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said. “Murph has done a nice job with him, he enjoys catching him. He can throw the ball where he wants to. It’s nice for a catcher when guys can do that.”
Mahle’s lone career appearance against the Reds came this season. He allowed a season-high eight runs in four innings to take the loss on April 15.
Singer will look to end a two-game losing streak during which he has allowed 15 runs in 7 1/3 innings. He gave up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings – his second-shortest stint of the season – in his last outing on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I think the biggest thing, try to figure out a way to have some command and put the ball where you want to and just keep working,” Singer said. “We’re doing stuff during the week, trying to figure stuff out. Matt Tracy (assistant pitching coach) is trying to help me out as much as he can and we work on those things and we’ve had good weeks. It’s just not really carrying over to the games.”
Singer faced the Braves on May 30 and worked five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks. In five career starts against Atlanta, Singer is 1-4 with a 5.46 ERA.
The Braves activated setup man Robert Suarez from the injured list on Wednesday and optioned fellow right-hander Owen Murphy to Triple-A Gwinnett. Suarez missed 80 games with right elbow inflammation. He pitched one inning and allowed a run in his return.
Atlanta right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. is expected to be back in the lineup on Thursday. He missed Wednesday’s game after fouling a ball off his left shin on Tuesday. Acuna wanted to play on Wednesday, but Weiss opted to give him an additional day off as a precautionary measure.
Atlanta’s Mauricio Dubon had two hits on Wednesday and extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz did not reach base on Wednesday and needs one homer and one steal to become the fourth 30-30 player in franchise history.
–Field Level Media
