Atlanta rookie JR Ritchie wanted one more start before the end of the regular season. With the division title secured, he’ll get it on Tuesday when the Braves open a three-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Braves (92-64) clinched the National League East on Sunday with a 4-2 win over the Houston Astros, completing a three-game sweep. It was the 24th division title in franchise history and earned the team a trip back to the playoffs after falling short a year ago.
The Reds (72-84) played their final home game on Sunday, losing to the Chicago Cubs 9-1 to drop two of three.
“At the end of the day, the end goal for this team is to win ballgames, and my job is to go out there and put the team in position to win ballgames,” Ritchie said after his last outing. “I hope I get one more crack at it, to do that, during the regular season. Just want to help this team win.”
Ritchie (1-3, 5.03 ERA) will face Cincinnati left-hander Brandon Williamson (4-4, 5.56) in the series opener. The Braves won two of three in Cincinnati in late May.
Ritchie allowed six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in his last outing against the Cubs on Wednesday. It was a step backward after his previous start against Washington when he allowed two runs in four innings.
The 23-year-old right-hander, Atlanta’s first-round draft choice in 2022, has never faced Cincinnati.
The Reds shuffled their starting rotation for the Atlanta series. Andrew Abbott had been the scheduled starter for Tuesday, but he will be moved to Wednesday. The Reds will be without young ace Chase Burns, who was placed on the injured list Sunday with a right groin strain and shut down for the season.
“We’re being very cautious,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said of Burns. “I think it makes sense to not push him for a three-inning start. He did a really, really good job and we got him to a point where next year, however he pitches, he pitches.”
Williamson has been working in long relief and has piggybacked Burns in two of his last three outings. He made his last appearance on Thursday when he threw the last two innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His most recent start came on Sept. 2 against San Diego when he worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs.
Williamson has made one career appearance against Atlanta and was charged with three runs in 1 1/3 innings on Sept. 17, 2024.
With the division title settled, Atlanta will try to rest its regulars and set up its pitching for the playoffs. Ace Chris Sale will get one more start, likely Wednesday. Setup man Robert Suarez, out since June with right elbow inflammation, could return after throwing a scoreless inning for Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.
“I told these guys winning the division is really tough,” Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said. “I know it’s the first step, but it takes six months to do it. It takes everybody and we used everybody and virtually everyone who got an opportunity stepped up and helped us win games.”
–Field Level Media
