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Top Handicapper 
Braves Aim to Contain Pirates’ Resurgent Offense
Introduction
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense has been warming up. In the wake of leaping to a major lead and holding it in the opener of their three-game series against the meeting, Atlanta Overcomes on Friday, the Piratesare hoping to convey that force into the second round of the series.
Pirates’ Offensive Surge
Impressive Victory
The Pirates built an 11-0 lead against the Braves before Atlanta scored five times in the eighth inning, resulting in an 11-5 win for Pittsburgh. This victory was especially sweet for the Pirates after back-to-back losses to the San Francisco Giants, where they had squandered five- and four-run leads. “When you walk away from games that you lose at the end, those seem to hurt a little bit more,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “I was really proud of the group for bouncing back.”
Season-High Runs
Pittsburgh’s 11 runs marked a season high, showing their recent surge at the plate. Nick Gonzales has been a standout in this offensive resurgence. Called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on May 9, the 24-year-old is riding a five-game hitting streak, going 8-for-20 (.400 average) with seven RBIs. “Hitting is very contagious,” said Gonzales, who went 2-for-3 with four RBIs on Friday. “When everyone in the lineup is swinging the bat well, good things are going to happen.”
Pitching Matchup: Keller vs. Lopez
Mitch Keller (Pirates)
- Season Performance: Keller (5-3, 3.84 ERA) will start for the Pirates on Saturday. He has delivered quality performances in each of his three starts in May, averaging seven innings per outing and going 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA.
- Career Stats Against Braves: Keller has struggled against Atlanta, holding an 0-3 record with a 9.97 ERA in five career starts. He has allowed 29 runs on 46 hits with 21 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings.
Reynaldo Lopez (Braves)
- Season Performance: Lopez (2-1, 1.54 ERA) has been solid in his eight starts this season. He has a 1-1 record with a 4.86 ERA in five career appearances (two starts) against the Pirates, giving up nine runs on 14 hits and striking out 14.
Braves’ Challenges and Key Players
Pitching Depth Tested
The Braves are hoping for a better night on the mound as their pitching depth is being tested. Manager Brian Snitker learned on Friday that AJ Smith-Shawver might be out for two months with an oblique strain. Atlanta’s top prospect felt pain in the third inning on Thursday but still managed to pitch 4 1/3 scoreless innings in his season debut. The Braves are already without Spencer Strider for the season, and they optioned Bryce Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett after he struggled in a 9-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on May 19. “It’s never perfect and it’s never easy,” Snitker said. “We’ll just keep battling our way through it, figure it out, and make it work.”
Defensive Struggles
Three of the Braves’ past six losses have been blowouts, with Atlanta allowing at least seven runs in those games. The team needs to tighten up their pitching and defense to avoid further high-scoring defeats.
Conclusion
As the Pirates plan to expand on their hostile resurgence and the Braves hope to balance out their pitching, Saturday’s down is vital for the two groups. Mitch Keller will attempt to beat his previous battles against the Overcomes, while Reynaldo Lopez looks to proceed with major areas of strength for him. Fans can expect a competitive matchup as the Privateers and Conquers go head to head in the second round of the series.
