After a breakout offensive performance last night in the desert, the Braves now look to win the series and move to 5-1 against the Diamondbacks in 2017. Atlanta will turn to Aaron Blair in the series finale, with the 25-year-old making his first start of the season.
The Braves acquired Aaron Blair from Arizona at the 2015 Winter Meetings, trading Shelby Miller for a package of Blair, Dansby Swanson, and Ender Inciarte. After a less-than-promising debut in 2016, Blair has spent the entire season in Triple-A to this point, posting rather pedestrian numbers with a 4.86 ERA and a 5.03 xFIP. The right-hander will need to be much better today as he takes on a dangerous Arizona lineup in a hitter’s park where each team has already produced an offensive outburst thus far.
In opposition of Blair will be Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin, who has a 4.43 ERA and a 3.81 xFIP. Corbin has been plagued heavily by the long ball this season, having already allowed 18 home runs. That may explain why his xFIP is so low in comparison to his ERA, though his batted ball profile would suggest that he is more of a fly ball pitcher. That does not bode well in a ballpark like Arizona’s, and could pay big dividends to a Braves lineup that has already hit five home runs in two games.
Blair made one start against the Snakes in 2016, with the only current Diamondbacks to have success being AJ Pollock (2-for-3) and Paul Goldschmidt (1-for-2). As for the Braves, several of their current starters ave enjoyed success against Corbin in the past, with Brandon Phillips (4-for-16, HR), Sean Rodriguez (1-for-5, HR), and Matt Kemp (4-for-13) leading the way.
Atlanta enters today’s matchup with an opportunity to move back to within two games of .500, and can cut into Arizona’s Wild Card lead in the process.
Game Info
Atlanta Braves @ Arizona Diamondbacks
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
3:40 pm ET
Chase Field, Phoenix, AZ
TV: Fox Sports Southeast
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM, Braves Radio Network