Atlanta left fielder Jurickson Profar will return to the lineup Wednesday night when the Braves host the Los Angeles Angels in the second contest of their three-game set.
Profar signed a three-year, $42 million free-agent contract in the offseason but was suspended 80 games for violating MLB’s banned substance policy just four games into the season. He has spent the last two weeks with Triple-A Gwinnett and hit .326 with three homers and nine RBIs in 13 games.
With Ronald Acuna Jr. ensconced at the leadoff spot, it’s not known where Profar will fit in the Braves’ lineup. He likely will hit anywhere from No. 2 to No. 6, but manager Brian Snitker said he is just happy to have another option for his struggling team, which has lost five of its last six games and is eight games below .500.
“I’m thinking it’s going to be good for our lineup,” Snitker said. “It’s going to be an impactful switch hitter in the middle of our lineup. I feel good about getting him back and putting him in there. Hopefully he can spark us and do something to help us get things going.”
Profar hit .280 with a career-high 24 homers and 85 RBIs for San Diego in 2024. His new team, the Braves, lost 4-0 to the Angels in the series opener Tuesday as
Los Angeles recorded its fifth win in seven outings.
The pitching matchup Wednesday will feature Atlanta rookie right-hander Didier Fuentes (0-2, 10.80 ERA) versus Los Angeles left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (3-6, 2.79).
Fuentes had been scheduled to start the series opener but was moved back a day in order to keep Grant Holmes on a regular schedule.
The hard-throwing Fuentes has struggled in his first two big-league starts. He gave up four runs in five innings in his debut against Miami on June 20 but was hit hard for six runs and two homers in a 3 1/3-inning stint against the New York Mets on Wednesday.
Kikuchi is coming off a strong seven-inning stint against Boston on Wednesday. He allowed two runs, both unearned, on three hits with 12 strikeouts. It was the second time in the last three starts that the veteran has posted a double-digit strikeout total. In 17 starts, Kikuchi has allowed three or fewer earned runs on 15 occasions.
“I’ve been able to throw my slider and curveball for strikes to get ahead and put away guys,” he said. “Right now, it’s probably like 50-50 usage between those two pitches. And I think, as a hitter, I have them guessing over there.”
Kikuchi has made one career start against the Braves, resulting in a no-decision after allowing five runs over four innings while pitching for Toronto in 2023.
The Braves made a pair of pitching moves on Tuesday. They transferred ace Chris Sale (fractured rib) to the 60-day injured list, meaning he won’t be available until at least the end of August, and acquired right-hander reliever Hunter Stratton from the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league outfield prospect Titus Dumitru and cash.
Stratton has made 47 appearances over three years. In 2024, he was 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA and one save. This year he has pitched only 2 2/3 innings in three games, with a 23.63 ERA.
–Field Level Media
