Toronto Blue Jays vs. Atlanta Braves Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 8th 2024
Preview and Prediction
On Sunday afternoon, the Atlanta Braves will send their dominant left-hander, Chris Sale, to the mound in the final game of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Sale (16-3, 2.46 ERA) is coming off a stellar performance against the Colorado Rockies, where he pitched seven scoreless innings and secured his 15th consecutive start with two or fewer earned runs. This impressive feat has not been achieved by a Braves pitcher since 1912, when earned runs became an official statistic in the National League.
Sale will have the opportunity to lead Atlanta (77-65) to a series win against Toronto, as he boasts an 8-5 record with a 2.85 ERA in 20 career appearances (17 starts) against the Blue Jays.
The Braves took the first game of the series with a 3-1 victory on Friday, but the Blue Jays (68-75) bounced back in the second game with a 9-5 win on Saturday. Toronto will start right-hander Yariel Rodriguez (1-6, 4.61) on Sunday, who has yet to face the Braves in his career.
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Unfortunately for Atlanta, Saturday's loss pushed them out of a National League wild-card spot.
Sale is currently in the running for pitching's triple crown, leading the American League or NL in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. He has recorded 206 strikeouts this season, marking the eighth time in his career that he has surpassed 200 strikeouts in a single season.
Braves manager Brian Snitker praised Sale's performance, saying, "A lot of the things he's doing is very special in my book. If you're with him every day and you're watching how he competes and what he's done for us, it's a Cy Young season."
In other news, Braves first baseman Matt Olson played in his 600th consecutive game on Saturday and had a strong performance, going 2-for-3 with a walk.
However, Atlanta will be without Whit Merrifield for at least the next week as he recovers from a fractured foot. Merrifield sustained the injury after fouling a ball off his left foot during Friday's game.
The Braves made a move to bolster their roster on Saturday, acquiring former Blue Jays utility man Cavan Biggio on a minor league deal from the San Francisco Giants.
On the Blue Jays' side, starting pitcher Jose Berrios had a standout performance on Saturday, allowing only one run in six innings and securing his career-best 15th win of the season. Spencer Horwitz also had a strong showing, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, three RBIs, and three runs to lead the team to a 17-hit victory.
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Blue Jays manager John Schneider stated that he plans to keep the starting rotation as is for now, but may make some changes following their upcoming three-game series against the New York Mets, which begins on Monday.
There is a possibility that right-hander Jake Bloss, currently playing for Triple-A Buffalo, could be called up to provide some relief for Rodriguez, who has only pitched more than five innings in a game four times this season.
Toronto Blue Jays vs. Atlanta Braves Recap SEP 8TH 2024
Sean Murphy drove in the winning run with an infield grounder to complete a two-run 11th-inning rally and give the Atlanta Braves a 4-3 win on Sunday over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber game of a three-game series.
The win moved the Braves (78-65) into a tie with the New York Mets for the final wild-card playoff spot. The Blue Jays (68-76) have lost five of their last six.
In the 11th inning, the Braves had runners on the corners against Zach Pop (1-4) after Eli White's bunt. Automatic runner Michael Harris II scored and White advanced to third when third baseman Addison Barger threw wildly after fielding Adam Duvall's grounder. Matt Olson was walked to load the bases, and Murphy hit the first pitch to second base, but White beat the throw to the plate.
George Springer put the Blue Jays ahead in the 11th with an RBI single to center field, ending a 26-inning scoreless streak for the Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias (5-1), who earned the win.
Both teams loaded the bases in the 10th inning with one out, but neither was able to push across a run.
The Blue Jays took a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning when pinch hitter Spencer Horwitz hit a two-run homer, his 12th, off reliever Joe Jimenz.
The Braves tied the game in the ninth inning against reliever Chad Green after White beat out an infield single. White went to third on Marcell Ozuna's single and scored on Olson's sacrifice fly.
Atlanta starter Chris Sale pitched six scoreless innings and allowed two hits, one walk and two hit batters with seven strikeouts. It was the 15th time in 16 consecutive starts where Sale has allowed two or fewer earned runs and his fixth scoreless effort of the season. Sale threw a season-high 113 pitches.
Toronto starter Yariel Rodriguez threw five innings and allowed one run on two hits, one walk and six strikeouts. He has allowed one run over eight combined innings in his last two starts.
Jarred Kelenic got the Braves on the board in the second inning. He launched a two-out solo homer to right-center field, a blast of 416 feet. It was his 15th, setting a career high for a single season.