Big bats will be on display when the Los Angeles Angels (56-51) and Atlanta Braves (67-37) battle for the final time. The Halos took the series opener on Monday night, and round two is scheduled for Tuesday night. Wednesday afternoon will finish the three-game set. Truist Park is hosting, just as it did in 2022. At 12:20 p.m. EDT, these teams will meet for the final time.
14 years in the making ??#GoHalos pic.twitter.com/2uMFhRlclC
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 1, 2023
Even without Mike Trout moving forward, the Angels have pursued additions at the trade deadline. On the mound, former All-Star Lucas Giolito is one of those acquisitions. He'll start this game, his second representing Anaheim's team. His first Angels start was a loss, the fifth straight time his team was defeated on his turn through the rotation. Giolito gave up three runs and two homers over 5.1 innings pitched. Away games have been an issue for him all year, as he owns a 5.23 ERA on the road. Maybe the fresh threads will rejuvenate him.
Randal Grichuk and C.J. Cron are two bats who Los Angeles added to the lineup ahead of the trade deadline. The two former Rockies will join Shohei Ohtani, Hunter Renfroe, and Taylor Ward in an offense scoring the fifth-most runs per game. Los Angeles has succeeded through the third-most homers league-wide, led by Ohtani's MLB-leading 39. A top-10 walk rate has the Angles fourth in OBP along with baseball's fourth-best slugging percentage. Strikeouts and stolen bases aren't helping the offense, but they're productive enough anyway. The playoff push is on.