The Baltimore Orioles (21-10) take one of the top lineups in MLB on the road to face the Atlanta Braves (22-10) at Truist Park on Friday for the first of a three-game Interleague series. The Orioles are kicking off the final series of their 10-game road trip.
They won two out of three in their last series against the Royals, taking the finale 13-10 on Thursday at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. Gunnar Henderson was 1 for 2 with a home run, two runs, and two RBIs. Adam Frazier added four runs on two hits.
The Braves are back home after a successful six-game road trip (5-1). They are coming off a three-game sweep of the Marlins, taking the finale 6-3 on Thursday at loanDepot park. Eddie Rosario went 2 for 4 with two doubles and one run.
The teams are meeting for the first time since August 22, 2021, when the Braves finished off a three-game series sweep with a 3-1 victory at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
ON THE MOUND
Dean Kremer (2-1, 6.67 ERA) is slated for the start for Baltimore. The righty allowed five runs over five innings in his last start, a 7-4 road defeat against the Tigers on Saturday. He took the loss, yielding 11 hits while striking out six and walking two.
Southpaw Max Fried (2-0, 0.45 ERA) is on the mound for Atlanta. In his last start on April 28, Fried threw a complete game shutout in a 4-0 victory over the Mets. He scattered only three hits, striking out seven and walking one en route to the win.
AT THE PLATE
The Baltimore offense is averaging 5.5 runs per game for the season, fifth best in MLB, with a slash line of .261/.337/.427. Adley Rutschman leads the team in OPS at .888. The first baseman is slashing .313/.423/.464 with four home runs, 18 RBIs, and 15 runs over 31 games.
Over the last five games, though, Baltimore has averaged 7.0 runs a game while slashing better across the board (.285/.369/.464). Against southpaws like Fried this season, the O’s have an .816 OPS, fifth highest in MLB.
Ryan Mountcastle is the team’s most potent producer against left-handers with a 1.070 OPS in 47 at-bats. Atlanta is slashing .254/.343/.468 for the season and averaging 5.5 runs per game, second best in the National League.
Four Braves hitters have an OPS of .800 or better, led by Sean Murphy (1.072). The first baseman has eight home runs, 24 RBIs, and 20 runs scored with a slash line of .289/.439/.633. Atlanta is averaging 7.6 runs per game in the last five with a better slash line (.302/.378/.592).
The Braves have a .766 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a 1.104 OPS over 83 at-bats, Ronald Acuna Jr. has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Baltimore is 12-6 away from home in 2023, scoring 5.8 runs per game while allowing 4.9 runs. Atlanta has gone 7-7 at Truist Park this season, averaging 4.9 runs per game while surrendering 4.9. In three games between the teams at Truist Park, Baltimore is 2-1 with an average scoreline of 6.7-6.3.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Braves lead the NL East by five games over the Marlins. The Orioles are second in the AL East, four games behind the Rays.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Atlanta Braves (-225)
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