The Atlanta Braves are trying to keep above .500 right here in the infancy of the season and they’ll probably want a robust begin from Bryce Elder in the event that they’re going to choose up their third win in 4 video games thus far.
The Athletics are coming into this recreation licking their wounds a bit. The defending American League champions Toronto Blue Jays opened up their season in model with a three-game sweep over this A’s squad. In reality, Toronto’s pitching was a bit an excessive amount of for the A’s to deal with at instances, as the Blue Jays ended up recording a whopping 50 strikeouts throughout the three-game series — which is an MLB document for the first three video games of the season.
With that being stated, every time the Athletics did handle to make contact with the ball, they made some noise. The A’s had a Hard-Hit share of 36.5 p.c throughout the first three video games of the series, which positioned them in fourth behind the Dodgers (positive), White Sox (really is sensible), and the Marlins (they performed the Rockies). The greatest offender over the weekend was Shea Langeliers, who had a Barrel charge of 37.5 p.c and clubbed three dingers over the course of the three video games North of the border. Of course, the Braves may have to fear about guys like Nick Kurtz and Lawrence Butler waking up and additionally guys like previous nemesis Jeff McNeil persevering with to be annoying whereas carrying a unique uniform however the onus can be on Bryce Elder to quiet down Langeliers and his bat.
Speaking of Elder, this’ll be his first begin of the season and if we’re being sincere, he ended spring coaching on a excessive be aware. He struck out six Red Sox batters whereas solely giving up one run on one hit and two walks over 5 innings of labor. Sure, he had a blip towards the Rays proper earlier than that begin however he additionally didn’t have “mechanical issues” like Reynaldo López did, so perhaps this’ll be a case of Elder peaking at the proper time. It’s additionally been over two weeks since we’ve seen Elder pitch and whereas I’m positive that he’s most likely had bullpen periods between now and then, we’ll have to see how the layoff results Elder as he will get his season going. Maybe all of those components will translate right into a shutdown efficiency, which might be a beautiful approach to mark his first time making the Opening Day roster.
Elder’s equal for the A’s can be Jacob Lopez, who’s coming off of a profitable first season with the A’s the place he ended up with a 4.08 ERA (97 ERA-) and 4.26 FIP (100 FIP-) throughout 92.2 innings of labor in 2025. “But Demetrius, those ERA- and FIP- numbers suggest that he was very average! Why was it successful and considered to be a breakout season?”
Well, the most important numbers counsel that he was completely okay however the underlying metrics counsel that Lopez is extraordinarily robust to cope with. His xERA in 2025 was 3.64, his xBA was .211, his common exit velocity towards was a leisurely 86.9 mph, his Hard-Hit share positioned him in the 94th percentile of all starters and he had a strikeout charge of 28.3 p.c. Those are some excellent numbers (as evidenced by all of the pink on his Baseball Savant web page) and point out that he’s loads higher than his ERA and FIP would counsel.
He’ll even have the good thing about being a really new face for this present Braves squad to cope with. Only three present Braves gamers have confronted Lopez earlier than and shock, shock, they have been the three gamers who’ve arrived right here from the American League: Mike Yastrzemski, Jonah Heim (2 AB every) and Mauricio Dubón (5 AB). With Lopez being a lefty as properly, that signifies that we probably gained’t be seeing Yaz get a crack at him in order that’s one other factor to consider. As such, Lopez’s mixture of a four-seamer (35 p.c utilization, 91-mph common velocity), slider, cutter, change-up and sinker can be one thing new for the overwhelming majority of this Braves lineup to cope with.
As far as the latest historical past goes, the Braves really dropped the series out in Sacramento when these two groups final locked horns with one another. The one win for the Braves was a 9-2 laugher the place the beginning pitcher almost went seven innings whereas putting out seven and solely giving up two runs on eight hits and a stroll. That pitcher? Bryce Elder, in fact. While we’d definitely like to see fewer baserunners for Elder to cope with, a repeat efficiency could be very good to see, thanks very a lot.
Can the Braves preserve their good begin to the season going with one other series-opening win? Will the Athletics get away from a irritating journey to Toronto with a breakout win tonight? I feel we’re all rooting for the first situation there so let’s see that one tonight occur, please.
Game Date/Time: Monday, March thirtieth, 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
