Atlanta Looks to Turn the Tide in Weekend Series vs. Red Sox
Braves vs. Red Sox: Weekend Series Preview at Truist Park
The Atlanta Braves (26-29) return home to Truist Park for a three-game weekend series against the Boston Red Sox (27-31). First pitch for the opener is tonight at 7:15 PM EDT, streaming exclusively on Apple TV+. After dropping three consecutive series since their last meeting with Boston, the Braves are hoping to find some hits and wins.
This Braves team has been a bit disappointing lately, and it is a must that they find themselves and build consistency and momentum going forward. Boston, meanwhile, comes in reeling after being swept 3-0 by the Milwaukee Brewers, and dropping five out of their last six games. Both teams are having disappointing 2025 campaigns, and this weekend will be a tale telling weekend for both.
One big area for Atlanta, and I do not have to go into stats and numbers, is that the bullpen has to find some form and help protect Atlanta’s late game efforts. High leverage situations have been a struggle in recent times, as we saw in yesterday’s afternoon game in Philadelphia. Rewinding back to the Red Sox series in Boston, Holmes’ solid outing was blown after the bullpen failed to protect a 6-2 lead going into the seventh. That ended in a Rafael Devers walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth. Frustration is an understatement there.
Pitching Matchups
Friday Night – Grant Holmes vs. Lucas Giolito
Grant Holmes (3-3, 3.68 ERA) will get the ball for Atlanta, looking to build off what’s been a solid stretch. Holmes has punched out 55 in 58.2 innings with a 1.16 WHIP. For Boston, Lucas Giolito (1-1, 5.27 ERA) takes the mound. Atlanta saw Giolito in Boston, and were very successful, as they put six runs in eight hits on him, with three home runs in four innings. The Braves will aim to keep their bats rolling after last night’s 9-3 win in Philadelphia, where they tagged Zack Wheeler for six earned runs.
Saturday – Spencer Schwellenbach vs. Walker Buehler
Schwellenbach (3-4, 3.42 ERA) will look to replicate his strong outing from May 18 against Boston, when he went 7.0 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk in a win. Schwellenbach’s command and ability to limit some damage have been bright spots in the Braves’ rotation. He is still a young, work in progress and sometimes still leaves some bp balls to take. He’ll face Walker Buehler (4-2, 3.95 ERA), who has been working his way back from the IL. Buehler took the loss in his last outing against Baltimore, giving up two runs in five innings.
Sunday – Bryce Elder vs. Garrett Crochet
Elder returns to the Braves rotation after Smith-Shawver’s torn UCL injury. Spencer Strider was set to go Sunday, but Manager Brian Snitker issued an extra day of rest for the rotation, with Elder being fresh. He’ll go up against Garrett Crochet (4-4, 3.40 ERA), who the Braves saw on May 16 in Boston. That night, Atlanta jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with back-to-back solo home runs from Matt Olson and Sean Murphy, but Crochet settled in after that and ultimately took the loss.
Braves Searching for Consistency
Atlanta’s offense has been up and down since their series win in Boston two weeks ago. After a high point with the nine-run outburst against Zack Wheeler and the Phillies last night, the question remains, can the Braves keep it going? The team has struggled to string together hits and wins, dropping three straight series since facing the Red Sox. The Braves not only need consistency, but they need to generate some momentum as well. It all starts tonight against a struggling Red Sox team.
Red Sox Hoping to get on Track
Boston’s been in a similar funk. They come into this series after being swept by the Brewers, a series where they struggled to score runs in the first couple of games and took a 6-5 loss at the hands of rookie Caleb Durbin’s walk-off sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to score Sal Frelick on Wednesday night. Lucas Giolito and Walker Buehler will look to steady things, while the lineup tries to find a spark against an Atlanta team still fighting for rhythm.
Series Storylines
- Will Elder step right in and act like he never left?
- Will the Braves’ offense build after a nine-run showing last night in Philadelphia?
- Can the Red Sox avoid a second series loss to the Braves?
- Will Spencer Schwellenbach build on his solid outing against the Red Sox earlier this month?
- Bullpen!!!!
How to Watch
Friday (Tonight):
- First pitch at 7:15 PM EDT
- Watch: Apple TV+ (streaming exclusive)
- Listen: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
Saturday:
- First pitch at 4:10 PM EDT
- Watch: FanDuel Sports Network South/Southeast
- Listen: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
Sunday:
- First pitch at 1:35 PM EDT
- Watch: FanDuel Sports Network South/Southeast
- Listen: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
****Download the 680 The Fan app for out-of-market listeners****
