The Atlanta Braves are overdue for a good performance from a starting pitcher, and Kyle Wright has been delivering all season.
Wright (13-5, 3.22 ERA) is set to take the mound on the road against the Boston Red Sox in the finale of their two-game series Wednesday night.
The Braves ended a season-high three-game losing streak by winning the series opener 9-7 in 11 innings on Tuesday, but they let four leads evaporate, including two that belonged to starting pitcher Charlie Morton.
In the past six games, Atlanta’s starting pitchers have a combined ERA of 6.90.
Wright went 4-0 in five starts in July with a 2.64 ERA but lost his first outing in August.
He gave up six runs and seven hits in six innings of a 6-4 loss at the New York Mets on Thursday. The six earned runs matched his season high, and he allowed four home runs for the first time in his major league career.
“He wasn’t as sharp as he’s been and battled through,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Long ball got him a little bit. One of them days.”
Wright faced the Red Sox on May 10, when he also was coming off a loss to the Mets, and had numbers similar to his most recent start. He surrendered six runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings of the 9-4 loss.
HIs only outing that was shorter this season was forced by a rain delay.
Wright is 0-1 in three appearances overall against Boston, including two starts, with a 5.40 ERA.
The Red Sox plan to start right-hander Nick Pivetta on Wednesday. Pivetta (8-8, 4.51) is seeking his first win since June 24 after going 0-3 in five starts in July with a 9.38 ERA.
Pivetta avoided getting pegged with the loss in his most recent start on Thursday. He gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings of a 7-3 defeat at the Kansas City Royals.
“I was really happy with my results,” he said afterward. ” I was happy with everything.”
Pivetta has struggled in the second half of seasons in his MLB career, however.
He’s 9-21 with a 5.67 ERA after the All-Star break, compared with 29-24 with a 4.68 ERA before.
August also has been his worst month. He owns a 3-9 mark in the month with a 6.63 ERA, compared with 11-4 with a 3.66 ERA in May.
Pivetta played four seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2017-20, so he has plenty of experience against the Braves from his National League days.
He went 19-30 in those four seasons with a 5.50 ERA but is 6-2 against Atlanta with a 4.84 ERA.
Pivetta has faced the Braves twice since he was traded to the Red Sox on Aug. 21, 2020. He earned the victory in a 9-5 win against Atlanta on May 26, 2021, allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings.
The Red Sox likely will be without first baseman Eric Hosmer, who was acquired in a trade with the San Diego Padres last week. He exited Tuesday’s game after fouling a pitch off his knee in the fourth inning. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Hosmer’s knee is sore and he’s day-to-day.
The Braves also lost second baseman Orlando Arcia, who pulled his hamstring after driving in the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th and had to be helped off the field. Snitker said Arcia will go on the injured list.
–Field Level Media
