Atlanta’s AJ Smith-Shawver is coming off a career-best performance as he prepares to oppose Pittsburgh’s Andrew Heaney when the Braves take on the host Pirates on Saturday afternoon.
Smith-Shawver ((2-2, 3.00 ERA) carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and gave up only one hit over eight innings while striking out five and issuing four walks in a 4-0 win on Monday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds.
An eighth-inning single by the Reds’ Santiago Espinal ended his bid to record the first Braves no-hitter since Kent Mercker on April 8, 1994.
“That’s what you dream of as a kid, going out there and playing the game that you love,” Smith-Shawver said. “I’m just trying to take it all in right now.”
Smith-Shawver has been solid in his two starts since being recalled from the minors on April 29. After going 0-2 with a 4.61 ERA over his first three outings this season, Smith-Shawver is 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA over his past two starts (13 1/3 innings).
“Those are big steps mentally for him,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Those are the makeup things you look for in a young guy, how he handles adversity. He’s been dealt a lot in a brief major league career.”
If Smith-Shawver, who will face the Pirates for the first time, can continue to build off his recent start, he could solidify a spot in the Braves rotation.
The Braves, who have struggled offensively at times of late, will try to provide some run support to their 22-year-old rookie right-hander. Atlanta couldn’t find its offense until the ninth inning on Friday when it nearly rallied from a 3-0 deficit before losing 3-2.
Meanwhile, Heaney (2-3, 3.18) is coming off his worst outing of the season when he matched a season-high four runs on a season-high eight hits, walked four and struck out three over 3 2/3 innings in a 4-0 home loss on Sunday to the San Diego Padres.
He’ll try to recover his form from earlier this season and try to help the Pirates string together some positive results after snapping a seven-game losing streak on Friday.
Pittsburgh won in Don Kelly’s managerial debut and belted a pair of home runs in a game for the first time since April 27 when Alexander Canario hit his second of the season and Jared Triolo blasted his first.
“We’ve been scarce for runs so to see the ball go over the fence felt really good,” Triolo said during the Pirates’ postgame broadcast.
Heaney has struggled over his past two starts, which have lasted a combined 8 1/3 innings and gave up four runs in each outing.
Over Heaney’s first five starts this season, he compiled a 1.72 ERA, allowing six runs in 31 1/3 innings, and striking out 31 while issuing only six walks.
Heaney is 0-0 with a 5.00 ERA in two career starts against the Braves.
“Keep being aggressive in the zone and then making more quality pitches in big counts,” Heaney said after his most recent start. “I think I did a good job early on, 1-1, 2-2 and when it was time to make a good pitch, I did. Here, I think I’ve kinda been falling behind or letting guys have free passes.”
–Field Level Media
