Two pitchers looking for bounce-back starts will face off Thursday when the Atlanta Braves complete their homestand with the finale of their four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Braves won the first two games of the series, but Cincinnati prevailed 4-3 on Wednesday to end its four-game losing streak.
The Friday pitching matchup features Atlanta right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (1-3, 3.92 ERA) against Cincinnati southpaw Nick Lodolo (3-3, 3.27). Neither pitched well in his latest start.
Schwellenbach struggled in three of his past four outings. After surrendering one run in 20 innings over his first three starts, Schwellenbach has allowed 19 runs (17 earned) in 21 1/3 innings in his latest four starts.
Schwellenbach had his worst outing of the season on Saturday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. He was knocked out after 3 2/3 innings, yielding six runs on eight hits in a 10-3 loss.
“I’m not sure why, but I know (Saturday) I just didn’t get into good counts to pitch,” Schwellenbach said. “They were laying off some good pitches and got into some good hitter’s counts and put some good swings on pitches.”
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said, “I don’t know if it’s a trend. I think what you’re seeing is a guy that’s learning on the job. He came last year and things went pretty good. He doesn’t have a lot to fall back on, as far as experience goes. He’s learning what it’s all about and how to make adjustments and get through adversity.”
Schwellenbach beat the Reds last season in his only appearance against them, allowing one run over six innings while striking out five.
Lodolo will try to recover from his worst start of the season, an 11-6 loss to the visiting Washington Nationals on Saturday. He allowed seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four. It was the first time in seven starts this season that he permitted more than four runs.
“I wasn’t executing at a high clip at all. Nothing more than that,” Lodolo said. “I wasn’t getting in good counts.”
Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said, “I thought his stuff was good. He probably wasn’t commanding like he can, and it cost him a little bit.”
Lodolo will be making his first career appearance against the Braves.
Atlanta’s Austin Riley extended his hitting streak to six games with a single on Wednesday, but Cincinnati’s Santiago Espinal went 0-for-3 and saw his seven-game hitting streak end. Espinal drew a walk in the eighth inning but was picked off by Dylan Lee.
The Reds got two homers from TJ Friedl on Wednesday, their first long balls of the series. Cincinnati has 22 homers in 19 road games and 17 homers in 19 games at homer-friendly Great American Ball Park.
The Reds placed Noelvi Marte on the injured list Wednesday due to a Grade 2 left oblique strain. Marte was a late scratch from the lineup on Tuesday after complaining of soreness. No timetable was given for his return, but Francona said it was not a short-term injury.
Cincinnati recalled Rece Hinds from Triple-A Louisville to replace Marte, who is hitting .294. Hinds started on Wednesday and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his first major league game of the year. Last season, he hit .261 with five homers and 11 RBIs in 24 games with the Reds.
–Field Level Media
