It’s the conclusion of an interleague series on the diamond in the Pacific Northwest as a pair of teams in their respective playoff fields do battle. The Atlanta Braves are on the road as they finish up a three-game series with the Seattle Mariners Sunday afternoon. In the opening game of the series Friday night, Atlanta picked up a 6-4 victory to ensure a shot at a series win regardless of what takes place in the middle game of the set. Which team picks up the victory in the finale to leave town with some positive momentum? This article was published prior to the conclusion of the middle game of the series at T-Mobile Park Saturday night.
Atlanta won their eighth straight game as they took the opening game of this series on the road Friday night. The Braves entered Saturday holding the top spot in the NL East by themselves for the first time all season: they held a half-game advantage on the Mets for the top spot. On Friday night, Robbie Grossman (run, two RBI) had three hits while Michael Harris II (two runs, RBI) added a pair in the contest. Grossman (his fifth), Travis d’Arnaud (his 17th), Dansby Swanson (his 19th) and Harris II (his 16th) each homered in the victory. Charlie Morton (8-5) earned the win as he allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts over 6.1 innings. Kenley Jansen worked a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out two, to record his 33rd save of the season.
Jake Odorizzi is on the mound for the Braves as he makes his 18th start of the season ove rall and his sixth of the year for Atlanta. He comes in 5-5 with a 3.90 ERA, a 1.242 WHIP, 24 walks and 65 strikeouts over 85.1 innings of action on the year. Odorizzi didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came August 28 on the road against the Cardinals. He threw 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits with one walk and four strikeouts in a game the Braves eventually dropped 6-3. In his last three starts, Odorizzi is 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, three walks and 13 strikeouts over 16.2 innings of work. Odorizzi makes his 17th career start against the Mariners in this contest. He comes in 4-6 with a 3.66 ERA, a 1.303 WHIP, 35 walks and 81 strikeouts over 83.2 innings of work against them. Odorizzi is 2-4 with a 4.38 ERA, a 1.351 WHIP, 16 walks and 34 strikeouts over 37 innings in eight career starts at T-Mobile Park.