By: Emma Ann Lay
The Atlanta Braves begin their series against the Texas Rangers tonight in Arlington with both teams at a 25-15 overall record. The Braves are currently first in the NL East while the Rangers are also first in the AL West.
With seven hits and four errors, the Athletics fell to the Rangers 11-3 in game four of the series on Sunday moving the Athletics’ overall record to 9-33.
Rangers’ pitcher Andrew Heaney had nine strikeouts with two walks in six innings of game four of the series against the Athletics.
However, the Braves had a tougher weekend after being swept by the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto last weekend.
The series began with a 3-0 loss on Friday ending in a shutout by pitcher Chris Basset, and the Blue Jays continued to out-work the Braves leading to the series sweep. In quite an error-filled Mother’s Day series closer from both teams, the Braves lost 6-5 to the Blue Jays with a walk-off single to left field in the ninth from Blue Jays’ catcher Danny Jansen.
The Braves had 10 hits with three errors against the Blue Jays’ 13 hits and two errors leading the Blue Jays to out-hit and outlast for the series win.
The series sweep by the Blue Jays pressures the Braves to secure a series victory against the Rangers this week in hopes to break the four-game losing streak.
The Braves are still missing several pitchers due to injury with starter RHP Kyle Wright (right shoulder inflammation) and LHP Lucas Luetdge (left biceps inflammation) unsure of a return date as of May 6th.
However, LHP Kolby Allard is expected to return in June after recovering from a right oblique strain, and LHP Max Fried is expected in July after a left forearm strain following his May 5th start against the Orioles.
Win or lose, both teams would still maintain their first-place ranking in their divisions, but a series loss for the Braves could bring about concern for their overall season success. Game one of the series will air tonight on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte at 7:50 EST with the remaining games continuing at the same time on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
