Braves riding tandem backstops, bid to deal Giants seventh straight loss
The Braves, who host the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday in the second game of a three-game set, have primarily used catchers Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin in the starting lineup since the All-Star break with one behind the plate and the other at designated hitter.
Over those four games, the duo is 11-for-26 (.423) with four doubles, five walks and one hit by pitch. Baldwin was the DH on Monday and went 3-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs -- one shy of the franchise rookie record of seven set by Wes Helms in 2001 -- in Atlanta's 9-5 victory.
The three-game series continues Tuesday in Atlanta.
Over the past six games, the Atlanta offense has averaged 6.7 runs. The Braves average 4.2 runs per game for the season.
"Just more at-bats get you more comfortable," Baldwin said. "You see the ball more. You don't have to readjust when you get back in the game or play every other day. The more comfortable you get in the box."
The pitching matchup for Tuesday features a pair of right-handers in San Francisco's Landen Roupp (6-6, 3.27 ERA) and Atlanta's Davis Daniel (0-0, 1.80).
Roupp will make his 20th start and will be asked to help snap San Francisco's six-game losing streak. He took a loss in his most recent start on July 12 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he pitched six innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits, one walk and eight strikeouts on a season-high 104 pitches. The Braves lost 2-1.
"I just had full control of everything," Roupp said. "My last outing there at Dodger Stadium (June 14), I really just didn't have a feel for anything. This was a little different and I was able to get through six."
Roupp beat the Braves 4-3 on June 8 in San Francisco, allowing three runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts in six innings. He has made three career appearances against Atlanta, the other two in relief, going 1-0 with a 3.72 ERA.
"There's a lot of growing in this game from outing to outing," said Roupp, who is in his second season in the majors. "Just learning what works and what doesn't. I feel really good about the season and I'm ready to keep going."
Daniel is the latest player given a chance to contribute to the Atlanta starting rotation in the wake of the team's pile of injuries.
He was drafted and signed by the Los Angeles Angels in 2019. He went 1-4 with a 6.23 ERA in 2024 but was designated for assignment in December. He began the season in Triple-A and appeared in 15 games, 14 of them starts, going 5-7 with a 3.52 ERA at Gwinnett.
Daniel made one relief appearance for the Braves in April and was recalled again on July 13 to face the St. Louis Cardinals. He worked four innings and allowed one run on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Daniel will need to deal with the bat of Willy Adames, who continued his hot hitting on Monday, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and a home run. In 16 games in July, Adames is batting .333 (20-for-60) with five doubles, one triple, six homers, 16 RBIs and 12 runs.
--Field Level Media
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
New England Patriots player Marcellas Dial Jr. to miss entire 2025 NFL season after tearing his ACL
The New England Patriots have been dealt a major blow with cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr. to miss the entire 2025 NFL season after tearing his ACL. Dial Jr. was a sixth-round pick out of South Carolina in last year's NFL Draft and only started one game. But the 24-year-old was a major contributor on special teams and had been impressing new head coach Mike Vrabel in training camp. However, he suffered the devastating injury during Monday's training camp practice and will now not play a single snap next season. More to follow.
Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Travis Kelce's new teammate Robert Tonyan gushes about what it's like to play with Chiefs star
New Chiefs tight end Robert Tonyan has provided a glowing review of what it's like to play with Travis Kelce as the pair get to know one another at training camp. Tonyan, 31, signed a one-year deal with Kansas City in March as the defending AFC champions bolstered their tight end depth behind Kelce. And the former Packers star has been hugely impressed with what's he's seem from Kelce up close. 'Being here, seeing how he practices and how he prepares and maintaining his body... he's taken a lot of wear and tear,' Tonyan told reporters on Tuesday. 'But the way he's able to rejuvenate and get ready for the next day, [with] how much he did before, it's pretty incredible. And he practices hard, I love just learning from him. 'Over the years, how I was with Green Bay, you see his film and you don't really get it,' he continued. 'And then you get to ask him questions and then you see where his mind's at and it's awesome. Learning from him and Noah [Gray], they're both just two great players, and learning what Coach Reid likes, what Pat [Mahomes] likes and then just kind of putting my little plays around it as well.' Tonyan said it was 'incredible' to see the way which 35-year-old Kelce recovers Tonyan, who went undrafted in 2018, spent five years with the Packers and registered a career-best 586 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020. He's also spent time with the Bears and Vikings in the last two years, and joined the Chiefs' practice squad in December. Kelce is also set to be backed up once again by Noah Gray, who produced a career-high 437 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season. After flirting with retirement following the Chiefs' Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, Kelce will be looking to produce a bounce-back year in what could be his final season in the NFL. The future Hall of Famer had a down year by his own lofty standards as he produced his fewest receiving yards (823) since his sophomore season. However, he returned to the Chiefs this summer in slimmed-down form as he dropped weight from the season before. 'Each year is different man. You got to rebuild it,' he told reporters in June. 'This year, got some time to really focus on some form running and some things early on in the offseason that I just didn't have time for last year. Certainly, feeling good and I think it will pay off.' Kelce, who spent time working with a personal trainer in Florida, also pleased head coach Andy Reid with the shape he turned up in. 'He's svelte right now,' Reid previously beamed. 'He looks like he's 20. He's doing a good job. He's in great shape.' Kelce and the Chiefs will begin their preseason on Saturday against the Bears before kicking off their regular season on September versus the Chargers.
Reuters
6 minutes ago
- Reuters
Micah Parsons Next Team Odds: Cowboys' bitter rival in play?
August 5 - With the Dallas Cowboys embroiled in yet another dramatic contract stalemate with one of their stars, intriguing potential destinations have emerged should pass-rusher Micah Parsons be traded. Despite his recent trade request, most observers believe that Parsons will ultimately reach an agreement on the long-term contract he is seeking. That would be a similar course to that taken by quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb in recent years. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made the waters a bit choppier with comments over the weekend, including wanting to work directly with Parsons on a new deal. Should the sides not be able to reach a long-term agreement, DraftKings is offering odds on all 31 potential NFL destinations for Parsons, who has 52.5 career sacks and is still only 26 years old. The shortest odds for a trading partner belong to Philadelphia and New England at +1000. It's almost inconceivable that Dallas would deal Parsons to a bitter division rival and send the reigning Super Bowl champions an elite pass rusher in his prime. But the Eagles waited for the New York Giants to muck things up with running back Saquon Barkley before luring him away last offseason. It remains a significant longshot for Philadelphia to pull off a similar coup with Parsons. He is scheduled to earn $24 million this season on his fifth-year option, and Dallas can conceivably lock him up through the 2028 season with franchise tags. If the relationship really sours further and Jones becomes open to trading Parsons, the Patriots make a lot more sense. Not only is New England in the AFC, but the Patriots are viewed as a team on the rise whose contender status would receive a major boost with the addition of a premier pass rusher. Following New England in the Parsons market is another AFC team in the Los Angeles Chargers at +1500. Another borderline contender, the Chargers were led last year by linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu's 8.5 sacks. No one else registered more than 6.0 and the pass rush received no major upgrades via free agency or the draft. The next shortest odds belong Arizona and San Francisco at +1600, followed by their NFC West rivals the Los Angeles Rams at +1800. It's still remains likely that Parsons' saga with the Cowboys results in a long-term agreement. He is -300 to remain in Dallas and was seen at the facility on Monday with his practice jersey back on. He did declare on social media Friday that "I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys," which stoked the fire and led to oddsmakers creating "Next Team" markets. The sides are reportedly still far apart in numbers, and Parsons' lengthy post Friday on X clearly communicated his frustration. "Yes I wanted to be here. I did everything I could to show that I wanted to be a Cowboys and wear the star on my helmet," Parsons wrote. .".. Unfortunately I no longer want to be here. I no longer want to be held to close door negotiations without my agent present. I no longer want shots taken at me for getting injured while laying it on the line for the organization our fans and my teammates. I no longer want narratives created and spread to the media about me." Parsons said his attempts to discuss an extension started after the 2023 season but have repeatedly been met by "radio silence" from the Cowboys. "Up to today the team has not had a single conversation with my agent about a contract," Parsons wrote. "Not one demand has been made by my agent about money, years or anything else. "Still I stayed quiet but again after repeated shots at myself and all the narratives I have made a tough decision I no longer want to play for the Dallas Cowboys. My trade request has been submitted to Stephen Jones personally." The 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year has recorded double-digit sacks in each of his first four seasons and has watched the market for pass rushers explode. Defensive end Myles Garrett signed a four-year, $160 million extension with the Cleveland Browns. Maxx Crosby inked a three-year, $106.5 million extension with the Las Vegas Raiders. T.J. Watt's extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers was for three years and $123 million. A Parsons extension likely would be in the same ballpark -- or more. The Dallas Morning News reported in March that Parsons was seeking a record-setting $200 million contract extension that would make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. Parsons recorded 12 sacks, 43 tackles and two forced fumbles in 13 games (all starts) last season. A Pro Bowl selection in each of his first four seasons in the league, Parsons has totaled 256 tackles (63 for loss), 112 quarterback hits, 52.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 63 career games (all starts). --Field Level Media
