The Braves are keeping the core of the lineup that has come out of the All-Star break in better form through two games intact, with only a few small changes for Sunday’s 1:35 p.m. ET rubber match against the Texas Rangers at Truist Park.
The top five of the order remains the same, although Drake Baldwin moves back behind the plate to bring Dominic Smith, who is hitting sixth, in at designated hitter against a righty starter.
Additionally, Jim Jarvis, who has been in form of late with six hits in the last three games, moves up a spot to eighth while Brewer Hicklen replaces Eli White in right field and will hit ninth.
The Rangers are running back the same lineup they had for Saturday’s comeback win. That includes old friend Joc Pederson as DH in the leadoff spot.
The current Braves hitters have not had a ton of success against Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi (9-7, 4.04 ERA). They’re a combined 12-for-64 (.188) with four doubles, eight RBIs and 14 strikeouts to five walks.
Among players with more than two at-bats, only Michael Harris II (3-for-8, .375) and Dominic Smith (2-for-6, .333) are hitting above .200 against the veteran right-hander.The B
The Rangers only have a combined 22 at-bats against Braves starter Grant Holmes (5-4, 3.61) but they have had success against him, with a combined .409 batting average and .864 slugging percentage.
Jake Burger (3-for-5 with two homers and three RBIs) and Elias Diaz (2-for-5, 2 doubles) have had particular success versus Holmes.
But none of that history means anything when the teams take the field Sunday afternoon. Let’s see if the Braves can build momentum to begin the second half with a series win.
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