Fresh off of a series win over the Pirates, the Atlanta Braves will continue their home stand with a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
Atlanta will carry a four-game lead over Philadelphia in the NL East into Monday’s series opener against Boston but is entering a crucial stretch with three against the Red Sox and then a western road trip that will take them to Arizona and San Francisco.
Boston has cooled off of late going 5-5 over their last 10 games but are 94-44 and have a 7.5 game lead over the AL East. They are coming off of an 8-0 loss on Sunday to the Chicago White Sox with whom they split a four-game series.
Monday, September 3, 1:05 p.m. ET (ESPN, Fox Sports Southeast)
Touki Toussaint (1 GS, 1-0 W-L, 18.2 K%, 9.1 BB%, 1.50 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 4.14 xFIP)
Touki Toussaint will make his second career start in Monday’s series opener. Toussaint held the Marlins to two hits and one run over six innings back on August 13 in a spot start. With the Braves looking to utilize a six-man rotation down the stretch, Toussaint is getting the first crack and a solid performance against a powerful Boston lineup would go a long way.
Nathan Eovaldi (17 GS, 5-7 W-L, 19.7 K%, 3.2 BB%, 4.35 ERA, 3.99 FIP, 3.88 xFIP)
Nathan Eovaldi will get the nod in the opener for the Red Sox and will be on short rest after throwing two innings on Friday in a rain-shortened game. Eovaldi got off to a great start following his trade from Tampa Bay to Boston but has been knocked around of late. He has allowed 21 hits and 12 earned runs over his last 11 1/3 innings. He allowed three hits and three runs in just two innings and threw 35 pitches against the White Sox in Friday’s abbreviated start.
Tuesday, September 4, 7:35 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Southeast)
Sean Newcomb (26 GS, 11-7 W-L, 22.5 K%, 11.3 BB%, 3.85 ERA, 4.13 FIP, 4.29 xFIP)
Sean Newcomb will be on an extra day of rest when he takes the mound in the second game of the series on Tuesday. That could be significant given Newcomb’s struggles of late and that he has already established a new career-high for innings pitched in a season.
Newcomb is at 145 innings and counting entering Tuesday’s start and will be looking to bounce back from an ineffective outing where he allowed eight hits and six runs in just four innings against the Rays. He faced the Red Sox back on May 26 at Fenway but lasted just three innings allowing six hits and three runs.
Rick Porcello (28 GS, 15-7 W-L, 24.0 K%, 5.9 BB%, 4.27 ERA, 3.87 FIP, 3.79 xFIP)
Boston will counter with right-hander Rick Porcello in Tuesday’s game. Porcello has allowed at least three earned runs in four of his last six starts. He allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings in his last start in Chicago. He’s allowed 20 hits and 12 earned runs over his last three starts.
Wednesday, September 5, 12:10 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Southeast, MLB Network)
Mike Foltynewicz (26 GS, 10-9 W-L, 27.9 K%, 9.3 BB%, 2.80 ERA, 3.37 FIP, 3.68 xFIP)
Mike Foltynewicz will take his turn for Atlanta on Wednesday afternoon in the series finale. Folty was lights out in August but was knocked around a bit in his last start allowing six hits and four earned runs over six innings. He pitched the Braves to a win back on May 27 at Fenway when he held the Red Sox to three hits and one run over seven strong innings.
TBA
Boston has yet to announce a starter for Wednesday’s game.