Braves send Chris Sale to Mound for Pirates final, hoping to avoid sweep

The Atlanta Braves would love to not get swept.

After two straight losses to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta must win the series finale on Sunday afternoon to avoid its second loss of the season. The good news is, however, that they are well positioned to do so: the Braves send out their winningest pitcher of the season, the lefty. Chris Sale (7-1, 2.22) on the mound against another veteran lefty Martin Perez (1-3, 4.80).

Here’s how Atlanta will line up for the contest:

RF Ronald Acuna Jr
2B Ozzie Albies
DH Marcell Ozuna
1B Matt Olson
C Travis d’Arnaud
LF Adam Duvall
SSOrlando Arcia
CFMichael Harris II
3B Short Zack

Sale’s performance this season has been a welcome return to his early career dominance – his .875 winning percentage is the highest of his career and he leads the National League in both walk rate (just 1 .3 BB/9) and strikeout-to-walk ratio, currently. at 8.75 punchies for each free pass. He is one of only two qualified pitchers in the National League with an ERA and FIP below 2.50, the other being Shota Imanaga of the Chicago Cubs. The only member of the Pirates roster with a hit is first baseman Rowdy Tellez, who is 2-3.

Here is the Pirates lineup:

DH Andrew McCutcheon
LF Bryan Reynolds
1B Connor Joe
2B Nick Gonzales
RF Edward Olivares
3B Jared Triolo
C Joey Bart
CF Michael A. Taylor
SS Alika Williams

Pérez doesn’t have much experience against Atlanta, with his only career start coming in 2019 – he allowed seven runs on twelve hits (including three home runs) and two walks in six innings of a Braves victory against the Minnesota Twins. Ozzie Albies was the main culprit, hitting two home runs as part of a four-hit day.

This afternoon’s series finale is scheduled for a first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. It airs on Bally Sports Southeast and SportsNet Pittsburgh, with out-of-market people getting the game on MLB.tv.

If you prefer to just listen, the Pirates radio broadcast is available on KDKA-FM 93.7 while the Atlanta Braves Radio Network carries the standard broadcast on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan and its affiliates in all the land of the Braves.