Atlanta Braves to Face Cincinnati Reds for Three Game Set

Let’s hope the Atlanta Braves have a better time in the Queen City than they did in the nation’s capital.  The Braves begins a three game set with the Cincinnati Reds this evening at Great American Ball Park.  Atlanta (14-17) has lost its last three games mostly due to a bullpen that can’t hold leads.  Cincinnati (15-16) has had trouble with their relief pitchers as well.  Their All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman has just six saves.  The Reds actually have a worse bullpen than the Braves (-1.8 WAR compared to ATL’s -0.7).  It’s gotten so bad in Cincy that fans have petitioned to send Kevin Gregg down to the Minors.  So at least Braves Country isn’t there yet.

Tonight’s starters will be the Braves Shelby Miller (4-1, 1.66 ERA) versus the Reds Mike Leake (2-1, 2.47 ERA).  Miller has yet to allow more than three runs in any of his starts for the Atlanta Braves.  Shelby’s complete game shutout in his last start versus the Philadelphia Phillies really got my attention.  This guy is well on his way to becoming an ace for the Braves pitching staff.  John Hart really did get the better end of the deal with the St. Louis Cardinals as Jason Heyward is playing on an expiring contract.  The Braves have Shelby Miller for at least the next three seasons.

More from Atlanta Braves

• Atlanta Braves: Felix Has Already Shown Enough to Win a Rotation Spot
• Atlanta Braves Implode Late To Phillies, Cole Hamels Remains Sidelined
• Kyle Wright Shines As Folty Struggles In Atlanta Braves Loss To Red Sox
• Atlanta Braves: Grapefruit League Play Check Up
• Sean Newcomb’s Up & Down Day Against The Orioles

On Tuesday, Braves rookie fireballer Mike Foltynewicz (2-0, 5.23 ERA) squares off with the Reds Anthony DeSclafani (2-3, 2.50 ERA).  DeSclafini has lost his last three starts, failing to make it past the fifth inning in each one, including a loss to the Braves May 1st.  Folty has had great run support in all of his Braves starts. While his stuff was electric in his last start, Mike failed to get out of the sixth inning with four earned runs belonging to him.

In the series finale Wednesday night, the Braves will send Eric Stults (1-3, 4.84 ERA) to the mound versus a Reds’ pitcher TBD.  Stults has been consistently inconsistent for the Braves this season.  When he pitches well, he receives little to no run support.  He has gone at least six innings in each of his last four starts.  I’ll take that as the less of the Braves bullpen I see the better.

Outside of Julio Teheran, the Braves starters have pitched well in recent weeks.  Miller has been dynamic.  Folty has shown promise.  Even Stults is giving the Braves innings.  The biggest issue I have with this upcoming series is that it is in very much a hitter friendly ball park.  Long balls fly out of Great American Ball Park with great regularity.  Even in defeat these last few days, the Braves offense has produced more than its fair share of runs.  Hopefully some homers will come in Cincy for the Braves hitters.

I’m concerned that Great American Ball Park’s reputation as a launching pad will shake an already rattled Atlanta relief corps.  If either team loses this three game set because of their relief pitching, the losers will have the least confident bullpen in the Majors without question.  The Atlanta Braves cannot afford to have their bullpen spiral out of control any longer.  Each starter needs to go at least six innings for the Braves to increase their chances of coming away victorious.

It’s a new week.  It’s a new day.  It’s a new team in a new city.  Just put the Washington catastrophe in the past.  Let’s move forward and play some great baseball in one of America’s great baseball towns: Cincinnati, Ohio.  Let’s Go Braves!