By: Sam Goldfarb
The Atlanta Braves (23-24) open a two-game series at Fenway Park Tuesday night, visiting the
Boston Red Sox (29-19) for a crucial interleague showdown. Atlanta (T-2nd ) sits just 1 game back
of the New York Mets for the NL East lead, with a sweep potentially positioning them atop the
division.
The Braves have battled back from a 7-9 start to the month of May with four wins in their last
five games, and they will look to build more momentum after snatching a massive series victory
over the Pittsburgh Pirates last weekend. Despite dropping Thursday’s opener, Atlanta’s offense
exploded in the following three games, driving 20 runs over the plate Friday night in a 20-1
thrashing and outscoring Pittsburgh 33-3 over that span.
Atlanta’s recent offensive outburst has been fueled by 24-year-old third-baseman Austin Riley.
The third-year youngster – who will enter Fenway Tuesday night on an eight-game hit streak –
slashed a scintillating 8-for-16 with 4 home runs and 9 total RBIs over the weekend, as his
batting average surged to a team-high .320. Additionally, despite another largely frustrating
series at the plate (3-for-16), star slugger Ronald Acuña Jr. cleared the fences twice (including a
grand-slam Friday), undoubtedly a welcome sight for Braves fans across the country. Acuña has
hit just .191 in May, and a more consistent bat this summer may render the Atlanta lineup
unstoppable.
The Braves will face a considerable test against a Red Sox team with its own credible playoff
aspirations. Boston sits just a half-game back of the American League-best Tampa Bay Rays and
will open a scheduled five-game homestand with a 7-3 record in its last 10 games. A 6-2 loss in
Philadelphia Sunday afternoon snapped Boston’s four-game win-streak, and the Red Sox will
look to bounce back in front of an increasingly large home crowd.
Boston is also driven by its offense, which boasts considerable firepower. 28-year-old shortstop
Xander Bogaerts (entering Tuesday on a five-game hit streak) has morphed into a full-blown
superstar in 2021, posting the fourth-best batting average in the majors at .345 and nailing 10
home runs. Left-fielder J.D. Martinez and third baseman Rafael Devers have also enjoyed
spectacular seasons, with the former producing at a .328, 12 HR clip and the latter mashing a
team-best 13 home runs.
With two spectacular batting lineups at play, the fate of this short series will ultimately lie in the
hands of two spottier pitching rotations. In Tuesday’s opener, starter Charlie Morton (2-2, 4.60
ERA) will look to outduel Boston’s Garrett Richards (4-2, 3.72 ERA), who has earned a win in
his last three starts. Morton has endured an up-and-down 2021 campaign thus far, but is fresh off
a solid 6-inning, 8 strikeout no-decision in last Wednesday’s 5-4 victory over the Mets. He is
seeking his first win in the month of May, posting an 0-1 record with 3 no-decisions.
