The Atlanta Braves will try once more to climb back to the .500 mark when they wrap up a three-game series against the San Diego Padres with a doubleheader Wednesday at Truist Park. The Braves took the opener Tuesday 2-1 thanks to a brilliant performance by Touki Toussaint. They enter play Wednesday just 3.5 games back of the New York Mets in the NL East standings.
Since Monday’s rainout, the Braves have juggled their rotation plans multiple times but will take advantage of the 27th man for the doubleheader and go with Kyle Muller and Bryse Wilson for Wednesday’s doubleheader. Muller was promoted to start Monday’s game but will get the ball in Game 1. He made three starts and pitched well for Atlanta before the break allowing five hits and four runs over 14 2/3 innings. Muller struck out 19 and walked eight with four of those walks coming in his final start. The Braves sent him back to Gwinnett before the All-Star break to stay sharp. Now they will need him to fill a big role over the next few weeks with Ian Anderson on the injured list.
Wilson had been scheduled to pitch Tuesday for Gwinnett but was scratched from that start and will get the ball for the Braves in Game 2 Wednesday. He has struggled in six starts at the Major League level posting a 5.34 ERA and a 5.75 FIP in 28 2/3 innings. Wilson’s last start for Atlanta came on June 20 where he was tagged for eight hits and five runs in just four innings against the Cardinals. He has made 10 appearances at Gwinnett where he has a 4.23 ERA and a 4.70 FIP in 55 1/3 innings.
Chris Paddack will get the start for the Padres in Game 1 of the doubleheader and will be looking to overcome a rough stretch. Paddack has allowed 22 hits and 16 earned runs over his last 16 innings, a stretch that spans four starts. He was tagged for five hits and four runs in five innings by the Nationals last time out.
Reiss Knehr will make his second career start in the second game. Knehr made his Major League debut on July 9 against the Rockies and allowed three hits, four walks and two runs in 3 2/3 innings.
Wednesday’s doubleheader will be two seven inning games with Game 1 scheduled to begin at 12:20 p.m. ET. Game 2 is scheduled to get underway at 5:20 p.m. Both games can be seen on Bally Sports South.
Doubleheader Info
Date: Wednesday, July 21
Game 1 Time: 12:20 p.m. ET
Game 2 Time: 5:20 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: Bally Sports South
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, WNNX 100.5, Braves Radio Network