The Atlanta Braves take a franchise-record home run streak into the second half on Friday, when they host the Chicago White Sox to open a three-game series.
The Braves have home runs in 26 straight games and a total of 64 homers during the streak. Atlanta has 169 homers, 20 more than the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are second in MLB in home runs.
The Braves have seven players with at least 14 home runs, including National League leader Matt Olson (29), Ozzie Albies (22) and Ronald Acuna Jr. (21). Acuna’s MVP-caliber season includes a .331 batting average, 41 stolen bases, 79 runs scored and a .990 OPS.
Atlanta (60-29) has won three of its last four games, 12 of its last 14, and has won 11 consecutive series dating back to Arizona, June 2-4. The Braves lead the NL East by 8 1/2 games over the Miami Marlins.
The White Sox (38-54) have lost seven of their last nine games and are 0-3-1 in their last four series. They have dropped 15 of their last 23 and lost 18 of their last 27. Chicago is in fourth place in the American League Central, eight games behind Cleveland.
The pitching matchup for the series opener features a pair of right-handers — Atlanta veteran Charlie Morton (9-6, 3.43 ERA) vs. Chicago’s Michael Kopech (3-7, 4.08).
Kopech has already been tagged for a career-high 17 home runs in just 86 innings pitched this season.
Morton, 39, has won his last four starts. In his last appearance on Friday, he pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed one run on four hits, two walks and six strikeouts in a win over Tampa Bay.
“Charlie was really, really good and very efficient,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “He just keeps amazing me. The ball was coming out of his hand really good.”
Morton has made three career starts against Chicago, going 3-0 with a 3.57 ERA. He has not faced the White Sox since 2019 while playing for Tampa Bay.
Kopech, 27, is returning from a 15-day stint on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation. He hasn’t pitched since June 27. Over his last eight starts, Kopech is 2-3 with a 2.47 ERA. In his last start against the Los Angeles Angels, he pitched four innings and allowed two runs on four hits and a season-high seven walks.
Control has been an issue for Kopech. In 86 innings of work, he has struck out 97, but surrendered a league-high 49 walks. He has walked at least four batters six time. Kopech has never faced Atlanta.
A bright spot for Chicago to date is All-Star Luis Robert Jr. The center fielder is hitting .299 (69-for-231) with 17 doubles, 21 home runs, 38 RBI and 48 runs scored in 61 games since May 2. For the season he’s batting .271 with 26 homers and 51 RBI.
Robert was Chicago’s only representative in the All-Star Game but wasn’t available Tuesday in Seattle due to a calf injury he said occurred while participating in the Home Run Derby one day earlier. Robert told Chicago reporters that he will “100 percent be ready to play Friday” but the team hasn’t yet provided an update.
He has hit safely in 15 of his last 17 games and became the fifth different White Sox player to hit 26-plus homers before the All-Star break.
Robert also defended embattled rookie Chicago manager Pedro Grifol.
“I think he has done a good job,” Robert said. “What happens on the field is something he can’t control. On the field is on us, the players. We are the ones who have to perform and execute. Besides that, he does a good job, and you can’t blame him for our struggles.”
–Field Level Media
