The dog days of summer are biting at the Atlanta Braves, whose offense has fallen into a slumber over the past week.
The visiting Braves will look to bounce back from a one-run loss when they continue a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon in a battle of first-place teams.
Milwaukee won the series opener 2-1 on Friday behind ace right-hander Jacob Misiorowski’s six shutout innings. Trevor Megill converted his 16th consecutive save opportunity to seal the victory.
Misiorowski’s velocity was slightly lower than normal, but he still struck out six and lowered his ERA to 1.68.
“There could be some fatigue involved here, but we’re trying to get him to understand that you don’t have to feel great to perform great,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “I think he’s getting that.”
While Milwaukee won for the fifth time in its last six games, Atlanta went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and lost for the sixth time in its last eight contests.
Michael Harris II, Mauricio Dubon and Mike Yastrzemski each had two hits on Friday for Atlanta, which has only 10 runs over its last five games.
After Friday’s loss, Yastrzemski offered a few ideas to help ignite the team’s offense.
“Probably just a little bit of trust in each other, a little bit of relaxation, not trying to do so much,” Yastrzemski said. “I think when you get in those moments, you’re trying to hit a six-run homer, and it’s not possible, right? So it’s about taking a good at-bat and moving on to the next one.”
The Braves will send left-hander Martin Perez (8-7, 3.15 ERA) to the mound on Saturday. His 18-inning scoreless streak ended last Monday, when he allowed four runs over five innings in a 4-2 road loss to the Minnesota Twins.
Perez settled in after allowing four runs on four hits in the first inning.
“Tough first inning; he didn’t have his typical command,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “I think he started leaning on the two-seamer after that and got through five, which was nice considering that first inning.”
William Contreras is 4-for-10 with a home run against Perez, who is 1-3 with a 7.24 ERA in six career games (five starts) vs. Milwaukee. He tossed six innings of one-run ball in a 3-2 home win over the Brewers on June 19.
Milwaukee will counter with right-hander Logan Henderson (7-2, 2.70 ERA), who held the Los Angeles Dodgers to one run over a career-high seven innings in a 6-2 road win on Sunday. He allowed three hits and struck out six.
Henderson has not allowed more than three runs in any of his 12 starts this season.
“There hasn’t been a pitch in a situation this season that’s looked like it’s been too big for him,” Milwaukee first baseman Jake Bauers said. “What impresses me most is just the poise, and you can feel it on defense. You look at him and he looks rock-steady up there.”
Henderson will face Atlanta for the first time in his career.
–Field Level Media
