3 things to watch for the Braves in the Pirates series

The Atlanta Braves return home looking for their batting talent as they prepare to host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a weekend series.

After winning eight of 10 games, the Braves dropped two of three in St. Louis to start the week, then suffered a shutout loss in a rare one-game series against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.

In the last two games of the trip, the Braves scored just one run in total.

Things could be very tough for the Braves offense again Saturday when they face one of the best young pitchers in the league. But Atlanta’s offense is primed to succeed in the remaining two games against the Pirates.

Here are three things to watch out for this weekend:

With the exception of the last two games, the Braves offense has been significantly better over the past two weeks. But designated hitter Marcell Ozuna appears to have entered his first real slump of the season.

Ozuna is 4-for-28 (.143 batting average) with 1 extra-base hit over the last eight games. He went 0-for-9 in the doubleheader against the Cardinals on Wednesday and then 0-for-2 with 2 walks at Chicago.

Hopefully Ozuna can shake off his slump against the Pirates. The 33-year-old has been a huge force at home, batting .333 with 11 homers, 10 doubles and a 1.069 OPS in 135 at-bats at Truist Park this season.

Much like the Braves, the Pirates have been trying to find ways to give their pitching staff more rest, so Pittsburgh apparently won’t be calling up 22-year-old Jared Jones this weekend.

Instead of Jones on Friday, the Pirates will start veteran left-hander Martín Pérez. The Braves will send Charlie Morton to the mound to face his former team.

Fifteen years ago, the Braves traded Morton, along with Jeff Locke and Gorkys Hernandez, to Pittsburgh for center fielder Nate McLouth. Morton spent the next seven years of his career with the Pirates.

Although Morton returned to Atlanta to finish his career, he still pitched more games and innings for the Pirates than any other MLB team. From 2009 to 2015, Morton went 41-62 with a 4.39 ERA and a 6.3 strikeout rate per 9 innings in Pittsburgh.

Since leaving the Pirates, Morton has averaged 3 extra strikeouts every 9 innings. As a result, he performed much better, recording a 3.60 ERA with four teams.

It’s been nine years since Morton last pitched for the Pirates, but he’s only faced Pittsburgh once in his career. He received a no-decision while allowing 4 earned runs in 6 innings. Although he struck out 12 and walked just one in that outing.

In 2009, the Pirates traded McLouth for Morton in part so they could open center field for a young player named Andrew McCutchen. It’s highly likely that McCutchen will be the first batter Morton faces to open the series.

While the Braves will avoid Jones, they will have to deal with Paul Skenes, who owns a 2.14 ERA and has yet to suffer a loss in his young MLB career.

Skenes has made only eight starts and began his professional baseball career last summer. But his 100+ MPH fastball and offseason mix of pitches, including a unique “sprinkler,” have already made Skenes an All-Star level pitcher.

The 22-year-old has yet to concede more than 3 points in an outing. He has only given up 2 runs in his last three starts combined.

Skenes also struck out at least 7 batters in seven of his eight MLB outings.

The Braves lineup could have a lot to do with the young pitcher on Saturday. Fortunately, the Braves will have Max Fried as the starter against Skenes.

This should give Atlanta a great chance to win the middle game of the series again. Skenes has gone to a no-decision three times this season in starts where he allowed 0 or 1 point.

Sunday’s series finale will feature Bailey Falter on the Pirates’ mound against the Braves’ Spencer Schwellenbach. The game will be the league showdown Sunday morning on Roku TV. The first pitch will take place at 11:35 a.m. ET.