Michael Harris II is out of the lineup for Friday night’s series opener against the Phillies in Philadelphia, and while losing a bat like that always stings, the real shocker is how much Atlanta’s offense has absolutely owned Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez in the past. Talk about a surprising early trend playing out tonight!
Atlanta’s Lineup Shakes Up for Sánchez Showdown
The Braves are making some calculated moves to take on Sánchez, who has truly come into his own as one of baseball’s best pitchers over the last few seasons. Ozzie Albies is stepping up, hitting above Matt Olson in the three-hole, and Lane Thomas is locking down left field and batting fifth. Sean Murphy gets the start behind the plate for the fourth time in five games, a clear signal they want to maximize their chances against a strong left-hander.
Ha-Seong Kim is at shortstop, and we’re seeing a rare start for Mauricio Dubón in center field. This means Michael Harris II, who, to be fair, doesn’t have the best track record against Sánchez, gets a night out of the starting lineup. Meanwhile, on the Phillies’ side, there aren’t many surprises. Kyle Schwarber is back at DH after playing first base Wednesday, letting Alec Bohm return to first and hit fifth. They’re sitting Brandon Marsh for Edmundo Sosa in left, likely because the Braves are throwing left-hander Chris Sale.
Numbers Don’t Lie: Braves Mash Sánchez, Phillies Struggle vs. Sale
Here’s where it gets wild: Atlanta’s active hitters are a combined 44-for-134, a mind-blowing .328 lifetime average against Sánchez! They’ve shelled him for six homers, six doubles, and 15 RBIs. Austin Riley (6-for-12), Lane Thomas (8-for-14), Drake Baldwin (3-for-6), and Ozzie Albies (8-for-15) are all hitting a ridiculous .500 or better against the guy! Even Olson, despite it being a theoretically unfavorable matchup, is hitting .300 (6-for-20) with two dingers against him.
Remember back in April when the Braves scraped across three earned runs against Sánchez? They kept the pressure on, racking up eight hits in his six innings. You know they want to carry that forward tonight. On the flip side, the Phillies haven’t fared so well against Chris Sale. Their active hitters are a paltry 28-for-131, a .214 average, with 43 strikeouts and just five walks. Only Derek Hill (1-for-3), Bryan De La Cruz (1-for-3), and Trea Turner (6-for-19) are hitting above .300 against Sale. Kyle Schwarber has both of Philly’s homers off Sale, but Bryce Harper has really struggled, going just 2-for-15 (.133) with two singles, seven strikeouts, and no walks. That’s gotta be frustrating for their fans!
Tonight’s Series Opener: What’s at Stake?
This is a crucial four-game set, and taking the opener tonight could seriously help the Braves grab a strong grasp of the NL East. With the lineup adjustments and those wild historical numbers against Sánchez, Atlanta has a real chance to set the tone. Let’s see if they can bring that heat from April straight into this massive September showdown!
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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