Braves return after disappointing trip to host MLB-best Brewers
Winners in six of seven games, Milwaukee (67-44) owns Major League Baseball's best record.
In a sweep of Washington, the Brewers outscored the Nationals 38-14, setting a franchise record with 56 hits across the three-game series. Brice Turang hit two home runs and drove in four on Sunday, while Christian Yelich went 7-for-13 with four RBIs over the weekend.
The Brewers are tied for second in the majors in batting average (.257) and fifth with 555 runs.
On the mound, Quinn Priester (10-2, 3.27 ERA) will make his 21st appearance (16th start) for the Brewers on Monday. The 24-year-old is 4-0 with a 3.07 ERA in July, and hasn't suffered a loss since May 13 at Cleveland.
"That kid has just been getting better and better. It's a credit to the front office," Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said of Priester. "He's great, has poise, toughness, all the things you want."
Last time out, Priester gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings in a 9-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Priester is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts against the Braves. He threw six innings of one-run ball in a 4-1 win over Atlanta on June 10.
Suffering through a disappointing season, the Braves enter Monday on the heels of a rare series win. Atlanta beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 on Sunday in the Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway, earning its first series victory since July 11-13. After a four-city road trip saw the Braves drop six of nine games, the club will return to Truist Park for the first time since July 23.
In a season that's seen all five of the Braves' season-opening starting pitchers wind up on the 60-day injured list, the situation went from bad to worse last week, when the club put superstar right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. on the 15-day IL with a right calf strain. Acuna, who was activated in May after tearing his ACL in May 2024, is batting .306 with 14 home runs and 26 RBIs.
Eli White has stepped in to try and fill the void, doing just that on Sunday. White clubbed a pair of home runs and drove in four to propel the Braves to their first Sunday win since May 18.
Fitting for the injury-riddled campaign, third baseman Austin Riley left the game after making a diving play and was replaced by Luke Williams, who later made a run-saving stop at third.
"Any time Eli does good, I feel good," Braves manager Brian Snitker said. "It's just like when Luke made that great play in the eighth. You root for the good guys, and they're both two of the best. ... As far as the IL for Riley, I don't know until we get in there and evaluate him more."
Making his second start in an Atlanta uniform, veteran right-hander Erick Fedde (3-11, 5.33) will look to earn his first victory since May 9.
After the St. Louis Cardinals designated Fedde for assignment and subsequently traded him for cash, the 32-year-old allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings in his Braves debut last Tuesday in a 9-6 loss at Kansas City.
In eight career appearances (seven starts) against Milwaukee, Fedde is 2-4 with a 5.77 ERA. Fedde has lost to the Brewers twice this season, most recently allowing three runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 3-2 defeat on June 13.
--Field Level Media
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
28 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Eagles star Saquon Barkley declines invitation to serve on Trump's sports council
Saquon Barkley has declined an invitation to join Donald Trump's council on sports, fitness, and nutrition, which is being revitalized under an executive order. Barkley, the 2,000-yard rusher for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, was on a list of sports personalities that included golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Nelly Korda, WWE executive Paul 'Triple H' Levesque, football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and retired New York Yankees great Mariano Rivera. Barkley confirmed on Monday that he had declined the invitation. 'A couple months ago, it was brought to my team about the council,' Barkley told reporters after Monday's Eagles practice session. 'So I'm not really too familiar with it. I felt like that I am going to be super busy. Me and my family thought it would probably be of best interest to not accept that. I was definitely a little shocked when my name was mentioned. I'm assuming it's something great, so I appreciate it but was a little shocked when my name was mentioned.' Trump last week reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test for American children, a fixture of public schools for decades that gauged young people's health and athleticism with one-mile runs, sit-ups and stretching exercises. 'This is a wonderful tradition, and we're bringing it back,' Trump said of the fitness test that began in 1966 but was phased out during the Obama administration. The executive order also reinvigorated the national sports council that could have included Barkley. Barkley won AP Offensive Player of the Year last season after rushing for 2,005 yards, eighth-best in NFL history, in his first season with the Eagles. Barkley has golfed with Trump and Barack Obama over the last year and the running back attended the White House celebration of the champion Eagles while some teammates – notably star quarterback Jalen Hurts – skipped the ceremony. Barkley visited Trump in April at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and caught a ride with the president to Washington on Air Force One and then to the White House on Marine One. 'He loved it,' Trump said then of Barkley's short flight on the presidential airplane. 'He's a great young guy and an incredible football player. Saquon had a season for the ages, running behind the most powerful offensive line in the NFL.' Barkley, meanwhile, pushed back on social media criticism following the visit. He noted that he had already golfed with Obama. 'Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand,' Barkley posted on X.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Injuries KO Cubs' Michael Soroka, Reds' Nick Lodolo
August 5 - The starting pitchers in the Cubs' home game against the Reds on Monday -- Chicago right-hander Michael Soroka and Cincinnati left-hander Nick Lodolo -- both exited early due to injuries. Lodolo came out in the second inning due to a blister on his left index finger. Soroka exited after two innings because of discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder. With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Lodolo motioned to the Reds' dugout after throwing a first-pitch strike to Justin Turner. Nick Martinez then replaced Lodolo on the mound. Lodolo retired all five batters he faced, striking out one. The 27-year-old has pitched a career-high 129-2/3 innings pitched, compiling an 8-6 record and a 3.05 ERA. Soroka, making his Cubs debut on his 28th birthday, allowed just one hit, a solo home run by Tyler Stephenson. Ben Brown took over on the mound to start the third. The Cubs acquired Soroka on Thursday from the Washington Nationals in exchange for two minor league prospects, outfielder Christian Franklin and infielder Ronny Cruz. Through 17 starts this year, Soroka is 3-8 with a 4.86 ERA. --Field Level Media
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
TJ Friedl drives in late game-winner as Reds nip Cubs
August 5 - TJ Friedl's clutch seventh-inning hitting and a replay reversal helped the visiting Cincinnati Reds defeat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Monday in the first of a three-game series between the National League Central playoff contenders. Friedl's blooper to shallow center on a 2-2 pitch from Caleb Thielbar was the Reds' third two-out in the inning. His single brought home Jake Fraley, who doubled to right center off Ryan Braiser (0-1), as the go-ahead run. Tyler Stephenson homered for the Reds, while Dansby Swanson hit a two-run shot to account for the Cubs' offense. The two teams only combined for nine hits in what became a bullpen game due to both starters exiting early with injuries. The teams combined to use 12 pitchers. Reds starter Nick Lodolo retired the first five Cubs he faced but left after throwing a first-pitch strike to Justin Turner. The team later announced the 27-year-old left-hander had a blister on the index finger of his throwing hand. Nick Martinez entered and allowed Swanson's homer, a two-run shot in the third that scored Ian Happ after he led off the inning with a single. Scott Barlow (5-0) allowed just two walks, struck out four in two innings and kept the Cubs from adding to their lead. Michael Soroka's debut for Chicago lasted just two innings. He allowed just one hit, Stephenson's homer, before Ben Brown replaced him on the mound. The Canadian right-hander, who also celebrated his 28th birthday on Monday, left due to right shoulder discomfort, the team announced. Brown cruised through his first three innings, but McLain reached on an infield single with one out in the sixth. The Reds second baseman scored the tying run when Elly De La Cruz hit a check-swing double down the left field line. The Cubs appeared to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out chopper by Swanson, who was initially ruled safe with an infield single plating Willi Castro. However, the Reds challenged the call, and replay showed Swanson missed the bag as Ke'Bryan Hayes' throw resulted in an inning-ending out. Emilio Pagan pitched a perfect ninth for his 24th save. --Field Level Media
