Two teams heading in opposite directions meet in a unique three-game series spanning two cities starting Thursday night in Cincinnati.
The Reds, who pulled out a dramatic 5-2 win over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, will face the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
The victory allowed the Reds to salvage the finale of a three-game series. Cincinnati remains the only major league team this season that hasn’t been swept in a series, winning at least one game in all 35 sets.
The Reds will send ace left-hander Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.09 ERA) to the mound in the opener against the Braves.
Cincinnati bolstered its playoff chances on Wednesday, a day before the trade deadline, by acquiring third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates and starting pitcher Zack Littell from the Tampa Bay Rays.
Following the Thursday night game, the Braves and Reds will meet again Friday afternoon in Cincinnati before the teams head for Bristol, Tenn. The clubs’ Saturday night matchup at Bristol Motor Speedway will break the major leagues’ attendance record. More than 85,000 tickets were sold as of Monday.
The Braves will send the newly acquired Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 5.91) to the mound in the opener of the three-game set. The 38-year-old right-hander made eight appearances (six starts) for the New York Yankees this season, then wound up in the minor leagues.
Carrasco went 4-2 with a 3.27 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the Yankees dealt him to Atlanta this week for cash considerations or a player to be named. The Braves hope Carrasco will help bolster a pitching staff that is dealing with injuries to Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes, AJ Smith-Shawver and Reynaldo Lopez.
Carrasco is a perfect 5-0 with a 3.24 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against Cincinnati.
Abbott is enjoying a stellar season, having allowed more than one run in only five of his 18 starts. In his most recent outing, he threw six innings of one-run ball in a no-decision against the Rays on Saturday.
He faced the Braves for the first time in his career on May 6, and he struck out eight while throwing five scoreless innings in a no-decision.
With the trade deadline set for 70 minutes before the first pitch on Thursday, the teams could be active again. The Braves are sellers while the Reds are buyers.
Veteran Atlanta designated hitter Marcell Ozuna told reporters that he was not concerned about being traded.
“It’s business, whatever happens, happens. But I don’t want that on my mind,” Ozuna said. “I just come in every day to play. If they don’t put me (in the lineup). I still have the same energy.”
In addition to any players the Braves trade away, they will be without star right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. for at least two weeks. Acuna was placed on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday after an MRI exam showed that he has a Grade 1 right calf strain.
“Those calf muscles are funny, too,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “That’s a big muscle for speed guys. Hopefully, they get him treated up and we get him back sooner than later.”
–Field Level Media
