Arizona Diamondbacks vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Predictions July 9th 2024

Braves, D-backs Face Off in Prime-Time Pitching Matchup

The Atlanta Braves have created an opportunity for an exciting pitching duel with the Arizona Diamondbacks by delaying the debut of All-Star southpaw Chris Sale by 24 hours. This choice pits Sale (11-3, 2.71 ERA), currently tied for most wins in the MLB, against Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen (6-4, 3.06 ERA), who placed third in NL Cy Young voting last year.

Adjustments in Braves’ Rotation

Originally slated to start on Monday, Sale was scratched in favor of right-hander Bryce Elder just hours before the first pitch. Elder, promoted from Triple-A Gwinnett, delivered a solid performance by throwing five-plus innings of three-run ball. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker explained the decision: “We decided to bring Bryce in, give all those guys an extra day leading into the (All-Star) break.”

Braves’ Winning Streak

The Braves are aiming for their fourth straight win following a tense 5-4, 11-inning victory on Monday, kicking off the four-game series. In the ninth inning, Arizona was close to winning when Atlanta’s Sean Murphy hit a two-run homer that tied the game at 431 feet to right-center off Paul Sewald.

“I hit the homer, but the idea is just to get the next guy up and see what happens,” Murphy said. “It went my way and left the ballpark.”

This blown save was the third consecutive one for Sewald. Despite this, Arizona manager Torey Lovullo affirmed that Sewald would remain the team’s closer, noting, “He made some really good pitches to get to that position and then a couple mistakes. A couple things went wrong, and good teams will capitalize on that.”

Diamondbacks’ Struggles

The loss prevented the Diamondbacks from moving above .500 for the first time since April 3. Lovullo reflected on the recent challenges, expressing his frustration: “I’m still shaking my head — a two-out homer doesn’t happen very often. But it’s been happening to us a little lately.”

Chris Sale’s Remarkable Season

This season, Chris Sale, 35, has revived his career. He positions 6th in the majors in strikeouts (127) and eighth in Time, acquiring his eighth profession Elite player determination. Deal’s process back to shape is eminent, taking into account his profession was wrecked by wounds, remembering Tommy John medical procedure for 2020. This medical procedure made him miss the entirety of the 2020 season and the vast majority of the 2021 season.

Sale won 11 games from 2021 to 2023 despite these setbacks, and the Boston Red Sox traded him to Atlanta in December for him. He received a two-year, $38 million contract extension from the Braves, demonstrating their confidence in his abilities. Sale said,

“To be able to be in this position, having a team take a chance on me, it wasn’t an easy trigger to pull — I’m assuming — just because of what it looked like before.” in reminiscing about his rise to prominence.

With the exception of a rough outing against the Oakland Athletics on June 1, when he gave up eight runs in four innings, Sale has made 11 of his past 12 starts where he has allowed two or fewer runs. In his three career starts against Arizona, he has a 2-0 record with a 2.53 ERA. He recently beat the Diamondbacks on April 7 by permitting two runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings during a 5-2 home triumph.

Key Matchups and Player Performances

Notable matchups include Randal Grichuk, who has two homers against Sale, going 6-for-20. Conversely, Arizona All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte has struggled against Sale, hitting just 1-for-12.

Zac Gallen’s Return

After missing nearly a month with a hamstring injury, Gallen will make his third start. On June 29, he defeated the Athletics by allowing just one hit in six scoreless innings, demonstrating his dominance. Be that as it may, he confronted difficulties in his ensuing beginning, permitting three runs and four hits more than four innings in a no-ruling against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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In his four career starts against Atlanta, Gallen has a 2-0 record and a 2.45 earned run average. Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Orlando Arcia, Matt Olson, and Matt Olson have all homered against Gallen, with Riley hitting a solo shot in the Braves’ victory on Monday. Albies is 4-for-11, Olson is 1-for-5, and Olson is 2-for-12.

Conclusion

The matchup between Chris Deal and Zac Gallen vows to be an exhilarating standoff as the Conquers and Diamondbacks go head to head. With the two groups areas of strength for highlighting pitchers and key hitters, this game will be a significant second in their particular seasons. The Diamondbacks want to regain their footing and get above.500, while the Braves want to extend their winning streak.