The Atlanta Braves are set to face the Chicago Cubs in the second game of the series. Last series the Braves faced the Cubs they swept them in the last week of September.
In this series the Braves faced the Cubs’ probable pitcher Jameson Taillon in which he had a solid outing. In 6.0 innings, Taillon gave up three hits (a HR, a double, and a single), one walk, three strikeouts, and two earned runs.
Should Austin Riley be good to go (odds are he won’t be), every starter for the Braves has faced Taillon at least twice. It will be interesting to see if Adam Duvall gets the start because he has by far seen Taillon the most with twenty-seven at-bats. The second closest is Marcell Ozuna with fifteen.
Duvall typically has been getting the start vs LHP, so we likely will see Kelenic. If Duvall does get the start it should be noted that he has two HRs, with a .222 average, and a .769 OPS. In six at-bats Matt Olson has arguably had the most success against Taillon with a HR, .333 average, and 1.262 OPS. Another hitter to keep an eye on is Ozuna. Not only because he has already been hot at the plate, but he has .333 average and .775 OPS against Taillon.
Interestingly, Ozzie Albies and Ronald Acuña Jr. have a solid OPS against Taillon with a .821 and .834 respectively. However, this is due to them both having a HR against him in limited sample sizes of seven and six at-bats, respectively. Albies has a .143 average, and Acuña has a .167.
Chris Sale has looked like a Cy Young contender over his last few starts. In his last three starts Sale has pitched 18.0 innings of 1.00 ERA and 1.58 FIP ball. In this time hitters have slashed .203/.236/.512. During this span Sale has struck out twenty-five to only two walks. Hitters have had right around a league average of .302 BABIP showing he has not been lucky in that regard. His 69.0 percent strand rate is likely not sustainable, but it according the Fangraphs, the league average strand rate currently sits at 71.6 percent, so he has not been too lucky in that regard either.
