Ozzie Albies is back in the Atlanta Braves’ starting lineup tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies after starting Thursday’s game on the bench. His return comes just after he delivered a massive pinch-hit triple against the Tampa Bay Rays, a hit that pushed Atlanta to a crucial win that could prove incredibly important for this current series.
Albies’ Numbers and That Crucial Triple
It’s been a season where Albies has hit .249/.304/.411, with a wOBA of .311 and a wRC+ of 95. Those numbers tell part of the story, but his recent heroics are what everyone’s talking about. That triple on Thursday wasn’t just any hit, it was the kind of game-changing play that gives a team serious momentum heading into a tough series. The Braves needed that win against Tampa Bay, and Albies delivered when it mattered most. You’ve gotta wonder what kind of energy that brings back into the dugout having him in the starting nine tonight.
Braves’ Heavy Hitters Ready for Nola
Outside of Albies’ return, the Braves’ lineup is largely the same group that squared off against Aaron Nola last week. They know what they’re up against, and some of their big bats have had Nola’s number. Ronald Acuña Jr. boasts an incredible 1.076 OPS against Nola in 56 plate appearances. Austin Riley has also crushed him, with a 1.111 OPS over 62 at-bats. While Mike Yastrzemski and Drake Baldwin have also seen success, with OPS figures of 1.046 and 1.056 respectively, their sample sizes are much smaller at 16 and 8 at-bats. Can the Braves’ mainstays keep up their dominance against Nola tonight, especially with Albies back in the mix?
The Phillies’ Bohm Problem
Across the diamond, the Phillies are looking to their own key player, Alec Bohm. When these two teams last met, Bohm was the *only* Phillies hitter who consistently got to Sale, racking up an RBI double and a solo homer. Both of Philadelphia’s runs that night came off his bat. The Braves’ pitching staff, and Sale specifically, will definitely be looking to shut him down this time around. It’s never easy to overlook the rest of the Phillies’ lineup, but Bohm is clearly the one to watch if they want to get an early lead in this series.
Tonight’s game is set for a 7:15 p.m. ET start, but heads up: there’s some sketchy weather in the area, so a delay is totally possible. Get ready, this series opener is shaping up to be a good one!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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