After watching another late lead slip away Friday night, the Atlanta Braves will try to get back in the win column Saturday when they continue their series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Atlanta homered three times in the game and had a 6-4 lead but was unable to hang on falling 7-6 in 10 innings Friday. The Braves remain four games back in the NL East standings thanks to New York losing to Pittsburgh Friday, but they desperately need to string some wins together.
Joc Pederson made his Braves debut Friday with a pinch hit appearance in the ninth inning. He is expected to be in right field and to be lead Saturday. Atlanta also acquired veteran catcher Stephen Vogt from the Arizona Diamondbacks early Saturday morning and he is expected to replace Jonathan Lucroy on the active roster.
Max Fried will get the start for the Braves Saturday and will be looking to settle in after an up and down first half. Fried allowed nine hits, three runs and struck out five in five innings in his last start against the Marlins. He has allowed 16 hits and nine earned runs over his last 10 innings.
The Rays will counter with left-handed Josh Fleming who will be making his seventh start of the season in Saturday’s game. Fleming has a 3.26 ERA and a 4.10 FIP in 69 innings this season. He allowed a walk and nothing else over 2 2/3 innings in his last appearance against Cleveland.
Saturday’s game is set to get underway around 7:20 p.m. ET and can be seen on Bally Sports Southeast.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, July 17, 7:20 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: Bally Sports Southeast
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, WNNX 100.5, Braves Radio Network